Richmond County weighs repairing aging arena, building new facility — or both

To replace, repair or both?

That's the question currently facing Nova Scotia's Richmond County, as municipal officials ponder a new multi-use facility that could set up shop next to its aging Richmond Arena outside Louisdale, about 20 kilometres east of Port Hawkesbury.

Municipal council has adopted a feasibility study that puts the new building's price tag at $43 million. At the same time, Richmond municipal staff are also trying to determine how much it would cost to address refrigeration issues and other concerns with its current ice surface.

An investigation into problems with the pumping system beneath the Richmond Arena ice and its refrigeration protection system comes just three weeks after the local high school hockey team had to cancel one of its games because of ice quality issues.

"You know, it's an older rink, there's going to be problems," said Rob MacDonald, vice-principal of Richmond Education Centre and Academy, who's overseen the school's Hurricane hockey team for the past 16 years — roughly a third of the Richmond Arena's existence.

"But they do an excellent job of keeping it going and finding the things they need to do that."

If the planned multi-use facility goes ahead, it would feature an NHL-size ice surface, according to the feasibility study carried out by Chris Bouey of the Halifax-based firm Architecture49.

Whether repairs are made to the existing facility or a new space is built, MacDonald said he's hopeful Richmond County won't be without an arena. 

"If the Richmond Arena … or the Civic Centre in Port Hawkesbury went down for any length of time, the amount of ice that's actually available ... for high school, for minor hockey, all the other events that are put on by the county and everything else, one ice surface just wouldn't cut it," he said.

"Each community really needs to have their own ice surface."

Council consulting residents

Back at the Richmond council table in Arichat, county warden Lois Landry feels the current investigation into the Richmond Arena could guide the municipality's approach to spending on a new facility.

She suggested a new reserve fund may be needed to maintain the ice surface in the current arena or build its potential replacement — or do both.

"Do we want to be a community without an arena? It's a really difficult conversation," Landry said following this week's regular council meeting. 

In the meantime, council is continuing to hold community consultations on the multi-use facility concept, which is also slated to include a walking track, six change rooms, a hospitality suite, a gymnasium, a food-concessions area and rented office space.

According to Landry, the biggest concerns among county residents to date are the projected cost and the absence of a public pool from the conceptual plans. During the introduction of the feasibility study to council earlier this month, the municipality was also warned about projected annual losses of $535,000 to $735,000 for the centre's first few years of operation.

In response, Landry suggested these figures actually represent a variety of different operating costs, and not just debt-servicing figures. She also urged residents to look at the facility's overall price tag in a creative manner.

"I wouldn't get too hung up on the $43 million … I would be looking at $588 per square foot. If you're sitting at home, and you have 12-by-12 floor tiles, just try to envision that every one of those costs $588," Landry said.

"So as we look at what we can build, it really is about looking at that number and looking at all the pieces of a multi-use facility, and what are our options, and what does that mean for taxpayers … to make renovations to an older building. So there are a lot of conversations to be had." 

As with similar-sized construction projects that have recently taken shape around Nova Scotia, Richmond County will be seeking financial assistance from the federal and provincial governments.