The Town of Bracebridge celebrated the official grand opening of the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre with nearly 200 people in attendance, including sponsors, supporters and members of the community. This milestone event marks a significant achievement in the Town’s efforts to supporting the health and wellness of the community by providing enhanced recreational and cultural space.
The grand opening featured speeches from key stakeholders including Mayor Rick Maloney, Parry Sound – Muskoka MPP and Minister of Natural Resources, Graydon Smith, Bracebridge Library Board Chair, Barb Hutchinson, Jason Sifft from Muskoka Lumber, and Ted Watson from MJMA, the architectural firm who oversaw the construction of the facility. Each spoke passionately about the importance of the new facility, which has been years in the making and represents a key investment in the future of Bracebridge. The facility is home to state-of-the-art features and amenities that will support the community for generations and play host to a range of activities, from sports to story time, social gatherings, celebrations and more.
The opening ceremony gave the Town the opportunity to thank the many community sponsors and donors whose contributions helped bring the project to life. Thanks to their generosity, the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre received over $4 million in contributions.
In addition to the formal ceremony, attendees enjoyed tours of the new facility, family-friendly activities in the Coulson Family Bracebridge Library, and a reception in the Muskoka Leon’s Auditorium. As Bracebridge continues to grow, the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre is an investment in the community that will enhance the quality of life in Bracebridge and surrounding municipalities, providing new opportunities for recreation, cultural events, and community engagement.
To learn more about the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre, visit engagebracebridge.ca/MLCC.
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Mac Redden says
The new arena complex is a financial disaster.
Aided and abetted by the District, of course.
Drunken sailors are thriftier.
“the project was costing $40 million!! more than initially anticipated.”
$58 million vs $18 million.
For some ugly boxes.
In Renfrew those involved with a similar debacle were asked to resign.
“Council calls for Renfrew mayor to resign over project mismanagement”
Mayor Maloney kept saying the new complex is jaw dropping.
The only thing jaw dropping is the cost.
$78 milllion!! not counting increases in operating costs.
For $78 million I was expecting sparkling gold leaf and marble.
Instead it’s very plain and dull on the inside.
Ugly on the outside.The new library is gigantic.
No expense spared.
Way, way over the top for a town this size.
Especially the bill.
When guestimated federal and provincial funding didn’t come through did Bracebridge cancel or scale back the project and the cost to just a new arena?
Nope.
Just borrow FAR more.
Using the District’s access to huge loans at high interest rates.
“The loans required will make Bracebridge one of Ontario’s top indebted communities.”
Cost is 3X+ expected for Bracebridge taxpayers.
A disaster.
For $10 million LESS than Bracebridge taxpayers are now burdened with, King township is completing a state-of-the-art, carbon neutral, fully accessible recreation complex with TWO!! NHL-sized ice surfaces, a six-lane 25-metre lap pool, a leisure pool, a multi-purpose athletic fieldhouse, and a multi-purpose community room.
Total $86 million minus $38.7 million funded from the feds and the province or just $47.3 million for taxpayers.
$10 million LESS.
king ca/townshipwiderecreationcentre
Some areas know how to get funding and value for money.
Bracebridge is not one of them.
Actually it’s much worse.
“The preliminary project budget was shy of $60 million; however, in late 2021, when tenders for the project began to roll in, the capital budget for the project increased to about $75 million.”
Now $78 million and climbing.
4X!!+ the guestimate for local taxpayers.
And that’s just the capital expense.
How many millions more a year to operate the facility and service the debt compared to the old arena and library?
Gert Frobe says
“Jaw dropping” according to Mayor Maloney regarding the new arena. It sure is as we taxpayers get a solid gold tax bill for a sterile looking building that could be mistaken for an industrial warehouse.