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A decision by Lloydminster council to build the proposed $101.5 million Lloydminster Place event arena and put it out to tender could come quickly.
The project has received more than $33 million in grants from Saskatchewan and the federal government.
The joint arena funding was announced Tuesday by Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, and Saskatchewan’s Government Relations Minister, Don McMorris, as part of $42.1 million of joint investments in 21 building projects in the province.
“I’m extremely excited as members of council are as well that are with me here at the SUMA convention in Saskatoon,” said Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers in a Zoom call.
The funding includes $16,463,508 from the federal government, $16,665,000 from Saskatchewan and $16,871,492 from the City of Lloydminster to secure those dollars.
Aalbers says he’s really excited to see the grant funding application come to fruition.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he said.
The joint funding leaves the city with more than $50 million left to raise.
Aalbers says council approved a borrowing bylaw for $33 million in 2022 with additional dollars to come from sponsorships and revenue from the development of the lots around the arena complex.
“There will be information coming to council very shortly from administration now that we know where we’re at with Saskatchewan and Canada, and we’ll take it forward from there and lay out the details,” he said.
The Government of Alberta has yet to commit to any grant funding this year, but Aalbers is hopeful.
“We truly believe we’ve made a really strong argument to the Government of Alberta,” he said.
He noted the challenge was the city’s request did not meet the budgetary process or programs they had, especially since the city was accessing infrastructure funding that was a federal provincial arrangement in Saskatchewan.
“My hope is we made a very strong case in Alberta. We’re asking them to come to the table as a funding partner,” said Aalbers.
He’s confident that will happen sometime after the Alberta general election in May.
The federal-Saskatchewan funding will support the construction of a new event facility in Lloydminster, which will feature two indoor and one outdoor regulation-sized rinks, including sledge-hockey-friendly amenities.
“Today’s funding announcement for Lloydminster Place is yet another win for our city,” said Counc. Aaron Buckingham in an email.
“This next step in our purposed event facility project takes us one step closer to helping in the replacement of an aging facility (Civic Centre) and adding additional resources for hosting both existing and exciting new events in our community.”
The new building will include accessible seating and washrooms for spectators and dressing rooms for hockey teams. The new arena will be an inclusive and accessible space where residents can gather to enjoy sports and community events.
Buckingham credits the role of the city’s Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup champion female U13 Blazers, with promoting even more inclusive and accessible facilities than our community has ever seen.
“Thank you to all those who have played a part in this exciting announcement,” he added.
