Sudbury

Sudbury's Northern Water Sports Centre taking shape

Construction is well underway for a new rowing, paddling and dragon-boating facility on Ramsey Lake in Sudbury.

New facility near Science North to open for the 2015 season

Rock has been blasted and work on the foundation of the new Northern Water Sports Centre on Ramsey Lake will start in the coming weeks. (Megan Thomas/CBC)
Thomas Merritt is the chair of the board for the new Northern Water Sports Centre on Ramsey Lake in Sudbury. (Megan Thomas/CBC)

Construction is well underway for a new water sports facility on Ramsey Lake in Sudbury.

The Sudbury Canoe Club, Sudbury Rowing Club, Sudbury Dragon Boat Festival and City of Sudbury are working together to build the new multi-million dollar Northern Water Sports Centre (NWSC) near Science North. 

Thomas Merritt, who chairs the NWSC board, said care is being taken to make sure the building fits into the natural setting.

"The shoreline itself will remain intact. And it is a very big deal to the city and a very big deal to us that the beaches remain intact and also remain accessible to the community at large," he said.

On Morning North Tuesday, Merritt explained some of the challenges of building on the shoreline to CBC Reporter Megan Thomas:

On Mobile? CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

Merritt said the goal is to open the new centre for the 2015 rowing and paddling season. 

He said money has come in from all levels of government, but the centre must still fundraise several hundred thousand dollars more from the community to complete the project.

Merritt, who also runs an accessible sport program in Sudbury, said the new facility will improve access to the lake and equipment for adaptive rowers and paddlers.