Winter Games Final Business Plan and Budget Near
Monday, November 5, 2012 @ 7:12 PM
Prince George, B.C. – Within the next month, the Canada Winter Games Society will be presenting its final business plan and budget to the City of Prince George. Games CEO Stuart Ballentyne told Prince George City Council this evening that while “We have moved some money around” the budget will be true to the original bid documents filed to secure the Games.
Councillor Lyn Hall wanted some assurances that the capital plans are on track “I need something that gives me a verbal commitment that we are moving towards 2013” he also wanted to know if the ice user groups have been accommodated .
“We felt good about the cooperation we got from our user groups to utilize the five ice surfaces that are left” says Colleen Van Mook, Director of Community Services. She says while some may be experiencing later start times ( about 15 minutes) she says the existing facilities are being used, with the CN centre seeing much more activity.
So far, the Kin Centre project has seen the demolition of Kin 1,new footings poured and the near completion of the upgrades to the Kin 2 Dressing rooms. So far, the work has cost $4.48 million dollars.
Then there is the matter of upgrades to the Civic Plaza which will be a legacy project. It will mean the Plaza will have to have a name change to something that will include “Canada Games” and “Jeux du Canada” in its official name, in perpetuity. The upgrades to the Civic Centre Plaza are pegged at half a million dollars, but that money won’t be needed until next year. The enhancement is meant to not only serve the needs of the Games, but be a location for the City’s 100th Anniversary celebrations in 2015.
Comments
So, how many months behind are they? I thought the business plan was originally promised for the end of summer (perhaps I’m mistaken – anyone?).
If all ice users are being accommodated on just “five” sheets of ice, with just a little inconvenience, you gotta ask what all the whining about the need for a seventh arena was about a year or so ago.
As it stands, it might be difficult to say we even need the six rinks we have.
Should we call the new rink Kin 1.4 ?
Excellent point, Mitch2. With clear thinking like that, you’ll never get elected to council, so I advise not running.
Also, anyone care to wager how many events are about to be moved to Fort St. John?
accommodated by playing at 11pm at night. Not exactly prime time, stay thinking inside that box Mitch2
11pm is prime time for beer leaguers in many, many cities. PG has had it VERY good for a long time and has become spoiled when it comes to ice time (and cost for that ice).
As much as folks hate to admit it our rinks are dark over 25% of the time. That just doesn’t happen in big centres…they play 24/7 and are happy to get ice at all.
Canada Games and Juex Du Canada, in their names in perpetuity/
Would that **perpetuity** be the same perpetuity that the land along Highway 16 West was when it was given to the City by the Federal Government.??
Perpetuity means nothing to this City.
Nailed it Mitch2, it was all just another debacle used by Green & Stolz and company to fan the flames for drama leading up to the civic election. The hockey folks, while well meaning I am sure, were just pawns in the game. Happy to see it did not go through and that some of that money was left for other venues and sports and it was the one time Rogers really stepped up to the plate. Such a vicious game, is politics, which IMO, is what keeps many potential good candidates reluctant to play.
Really, would anyone realy expect the city’s director of community services to say anything other than things are fine and everyone is being accomodated.
As for PG having low cost ice rental in Thunder Bay there are 2 private ice sheets that rent for $125.00 per hour. Other ice rinks rent for $160.00 per hour and up.
If comparisons are going to be made maybe it should include places like Ft St John, Vanderhoof, Quesnel, Smithers, etc, rather than Vancouver. Easy to make PG ice rental look cheap when you compare against the most expensive places.
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