From the Town of Bracebridge:
Beginning August 23, the Town of Bracebridge invites the community to experience the new state-of-the-art Muskoka Lumber Community Centre. From August 23 to September 8, explore the facility with a variety of FREE activities for all ages and abilities in the Muskoka Lumber Arena and Proline Rentals Fieldhouse, including public skating, a youth social night, sports, community events and more.
For the full listing of free activities and to register, check out the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre Opening Activities category at bracebridge.ca/programs.
NHL Training Practice and Meet and Greet
Friday, August 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Grab a seat in the Muskoka Lumber Arena to watch a live NHL training practice featuring a selection of NHL hockey players. After the practice, have the opportunity to meet the players and get an autograph.
Space is limited. Register at bracebridge.ca/programs.
Skate and Meet and Greet with Brady Leavold
Saturday, August 24 from 9 to 11:30
Brady Leavold’s story has inspired hundreds of thousands, with his online videos and in-person speaking events. Brady’s powerful story of recovery and his willingness to be vulnerable, has opened the door for others to find their own inner strength and voice. Join Brady for a skate in the Muskoka Lumber Arena followed by a discussion in the Muskoka Leon’s Auditorium.
Learn more about Brady’s story at bleavhockey.com.
Muskoka Bears Exhibition Game
Saturday, August 31 at 7 p.m.
Let’s show the Muskoka Bears what their fans are made of! Cheer them on at their first exhibition game in the Muskoka Lumber Arena against the Penetang Kings. Tickets are $10 at the door. Show up early to get your seat.
Learn more at muskokabears.pjhlon.hockeytech.com.
More programs and activities
From September 9 to 29, the fun doesn’t stop. Experience the facility amenities and try new activities with community user groups and more. Activities include:
- Breakers’ Parents Night Out;
- Lawn bowling try-it with the Muskoka Lawn Bowling Club;
- Muskoka Bears home opener against the Alliston Hornets;
- Bracebridge Tennis Club open house;
- Bracebridge Knight Hawks badminton try-it;
- MUFC soccer development try-it;
- Skate Muskoka Show;
- Pickleball; and
- Supervised play during select adult programs, drop-ins and more.
For the full calendar of events, visit bracebridge.ca/programs.
COMING SOON – Coulson Family Bracebridge Library
The Bracebridge Library team is putting all of the finishing touches on their new space and will be opening this fall. To be the first to know about the Library’s opening plans and events, register at engagebracebridge.ca/MLCC.
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Lakeland could have made the new arena a sustainable energy show piece.
Instead it’s an energy hog.
Solar on the roof and batteries on the ground to soak up excess energy during the day and make it available 24/7.
And prevent power outages for some local homes.
Like this micro-grid project.
Search “Bracebridge Generation’s ‘first-of-its-kind’ power grid tested in Parry Sound.”
Before the project was even finished there was a power outage.
The system kept the lights on.
Ice making and a/c for these huge buildings consumes a huge amount of energy.
Why wasn’t solar installed on the giant roofs to help offset the costs?
Another massive mistake.
The buildings could have been a net generator of power at times.
A government grant for most or all of the solar cost is likely available.
The new arena 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. Just look at it.
In Renfrew those involved with a similar debacle were asked to resign.
“Council calls for Renfrew mayor to resign over project mismanagement”
When expected federal and provincial funding didn’t come through did Bracebridge cancel or scale back the project and the cost?
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.” 4X!!+ the guestimate for local taxpayers.