What started as a roof leak at Elliot Lake arena now a $23M repair

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Andrew Wannan in the Mayor's Chair

Structural problems keep emerging in Elliot Lake’s beleaguered arena repair project, driving repair cost estimates past $23 million, city councillors heard Monday evening.

Special projects manager Bill Goulding spent a good portion of his lengthy presentation answering questions from councillors and residents about why costs have ballooned.

“This whole situation started as a roof leak,” Goulding said, in response to questions of why they didn’t just build a new arena instead of repairing the 70-year-old structure.

“It’s a bit surreal how a roof leak has precipitated into the project that we’ve seen before us over the past two years.”

Arena was built on sand

Goulding said the rink was built on sand, something that is driving up costs and causing construction delays. The rink was built before provincial building codes were in effect and bringing the rink up to standard is another costly process.

A high-level review by architects hired by the City of Elliot Lake recommends that an additional $11.6 million of work be done to upgrade the arena.

Most of the work would be required to ensure the local arena is safe and conforms to the province’s accessibility laws, said the high-level audit conducted by Perry + Perry Architects.

The new costs are on top of the roughly $12 million already estimated for the project’s budget.

The largest cost is more than $9 million for Ontario Building Code upgrades, while optional upgrades account for another $1,669,042.

Building code upgrades include adding exits, widening corridors, handrails, lighting, fire separations and air handling. Required accessibility upgrades include upgrades to washrooms, entrances, viewing areas, the lobby area and parking.

Extensive renovation

Other recommendations include replacing the entrance canopy, signage, curbs and walkways and lighting, among several other areas.

Coun. Charlie Flintoff wondered why the building couldn’t be grandfathered in, avoiding the costly building code upgrades.

But Goulding said the code must be followed if a structure undergoes major renovations.

“We are past the point where we can -- even in any subjective sense -- allege that we’re not engaged in any major renovations at the arena,” he said.

“We do not want something happening to the arena or anybody that’s going to be in that arena -- like it happened to the Algo Centre Mall or the other buildings,” added Coun. Luc Morrisette.

“Is it possible from today and in 12 months you think that our arena will be ready to go?” asked Mayor Andrew Wannan.

Both Perry and Goulding replied that barring more unexpected costs, it’s reasonable to expect the arena to be ready for the 2026 hockey season.

The next step in the process is for staff to go through the report and develop options in the next month for city council to select on how it wants to proceed with the repair.