Council approves immediate repair work to beloved community building

Stroud-Innisfil Recreation Centre & Library in Stroud, Ont. (Town of innisfil/Facebook)

Following a couple of incidents that led to the closure of the Stroud Innisfil Community Centre, Innisfil Town Council has approved immediate repair work and long-term future planning for the facility.

The building, that holds the arena, curling club, banquet hall and Stroud Branch of the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library, the arena was initially closed at the end of January due to wall misalignment in an interior wall, during a regular inspection.

Then, after a burst pipe last week, officials were forced to close the library and the curling club.

At the most recent meeting, Council will address the urgent repair needs of the facility using the Town’s Capital Reserve Fund.

The Town says even though there are regular inspections that spotted the problem in the first place, the building is showing its age and needing more complex repairs.

According to a detailed report by an independent engineer, the building will need new structural supports, interior window repairs on the main floor and other restoration work. The Town says, considering the age of the building, it’s common for older buildings to need work like abatement procedures, which are methods to control and remove any sort of hazardous materials. Repairs could include replacing any flooring, ceilings and finishes that could be affected by something like mould, lead or asbestos.

Good news for Stroud summer camps and recreation as those will still run but be moved to different locations. But the Town says ice bookings could be delayed for 2026 and 2027, and banquet hall bookings may not be available, but staff is looking to find alternatives.

“The staff is working very hard to relocate different facilities, whether it’s the Stroud Seniors who use it for their weekly euchre games, whether it’s people who’ve rented it in the summer,” says Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin. “The Innisfil Farmer’s Market will still be able to be here this summer. And they’re working to find ice time for the users of this building. And there’s a very large summer camp that happens here and they’re looking for a new home for that as well.”

Perhaps the silver lining in the hardship that the arena faces, it is currently up for an award that recognizes the importance of local arenas and community spirit across the country, with the winner getting $50,000 towards arena upgrades.

“The Stroud arena has long been a place for sport, gathering, celebration, learning, community connection, and so much more,” says Mayor Dollin. “The Hockeyville nomination is a chance for residents to share their memories, photos, and support for why this arena matters. Winning takes a community effort, and I encourage everyone to rally behind Stroud and help tell its story.”

The Town encourages the public to take part in the campaign by going to the 2026 Kraft Hockeyville Award website.

The Town says it is uncertain about timelines as the work is complex and requires various steps before and after repairs.