Tuesday event to kick off construction of Sudbury events centre

The new events centre in downtown Sudbury will be built across the street from the current arena, on land bordered by Brady, Van Horne, Shaunessy and Minto streets. (File)

Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre and members of city council will be on hand Tuesday morning on Minto Street to kick off construction of the new downtown events centre.

The ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m., will also feature the unveiling of architectural drawings for the $200 million project, which will replace the existing Sudbury Community Arena on Elgin Street, which was built in 1951.

Guests will begin arriving around 10 a.m., with the ceremony beginning at 10:30.

“Join us to celebrate the start of a new space where our community will come together -- a place where arts, culture, sport, and heritage unite,” Sudbury Multicultural and Folk Arts Association said in a post on social media.

“Free parking will be available on-site. We encourage guests to wear suitable footwear, as the event will take place on a gravel surface.”

“We’re embarking on a remarkable journey, and together, we’ll bring this vision to life,” the post said.

“A key part of this project is doing it as a community, celebrating every milestone along the way.”

The city hopes the new arena will officially open in 2028.