North Dumfries councillors vote to accept federal grant for twin pad project after emergency meeting

North Dumfries wanted more money for a new rink, but they’re settling for a $5M federal grant. CTV’s Jeff Pickel explains.

North Dumfries councillors voted, at an emergency meeting on Thursday, in favour of accepting a reduced federal grant for a twin pad project that’s been in the works since 2019.

The plan was to build an additional ice pad, next to the existing one, at the North Dumfries Community Complex.

“The old arena is dying. It’s on its last legs,” said North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton on Friday. “We need that second ice pad to fulfill the need... So it’s essential that we have this.”

In 2020, staff released the findings of a study on the indoor ice needs in North Dumfries. Phase one of the arena strategy indicated that two ice pads would be needed by 2026.

Emergency meeting

Council called the last-minute meeting to decide whether or not to take the federal funding, which was much lower than what they initially asked for.

In the fall of 2024, the township submitted an $11 million grant application for the twin pad project.

According to township staff, they received an email from the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program on Wednesday asking if they’d accept $5 million instead. The email indicated they needed a decision by the end of day on Thursday.

“The reason for the urgency is we believe the writ is going to fall any second. And the money has to be given out, otherwise it’s lost,” Foxton said during the meeting. “As soon as the writ drops, there’s no money. Everything is frozen.”

If a federal election is called, grant programs could be paused or lost altogether.

Township said the total cost of the project is estimated at more than $20 million.

Council debated for 30 minutes whether or not to take the money.

Coun. Rod Rolleman introduced a new motion to accept the grant, with the provision that staff continue to explore other finance and grant opportunities.

“I think we should take the $5 million that’s being offered but I think we should ask staff to go back and slash $6 million off this project. Dumb this thing down to bare bones,” Rolleman said. “Maybe we need to be ruthless and just slash it and make it real basic. Just a piece of ice with a roof on it and down the road we can add all the other things.”

Coun. Alida Wilms was the only one to vote against Rolleman’s motion.

“I’m deeply concerned we’re going to be loading on debt for this project” she said. “For that reason, I don’t feel comfortable saying ‘yes.’”

Foxton said they need to look at other options, like provincial grants, and said if council accepted the funding they could still give the money back if the project doesn’t move forward.

“I know it’s a huge debt. But if we can still make it work, [then] shame on us if we don’t look at all the options,” Foxton said. “We have to look at all the possibilities and options. That’s our job.”

Reflecting after the meeting, the mayor felt it was the right call.

“I’m sorry. Somebody wants to offer me $5 million, I’m going to take it and do the best I can with it,” Foxton said.

Grassroots group helps

Members of Centre for the Community Group in North Dumfries, which formed more than 20 years ago, started a fundraising effort in 2009 to support the North Dumfries Community Complex.

To date, the group has raised more than $2 million for the project. The group’s website said $700,000 has been put aside for a second ice pad.

Michael Pley, a member of the group, spoke as a delegate at the emergency meeting.

“Once you say ‘no’ today, I think all opportunity will be lost,” he said. “It’s now or never guys. We’ve had this conversation for a long time.”

Pley said he’ll also push for more funding from his contacts within the federal government.

“To say ‘why are you only going halfway?’” he explained. “We’re looking for the full amount.”

Township staff is expected, in the coming weeks, to return with a report on the twin pad project that includes a fundraising plan.