The Pan American Games in Puslinch?
While the idea of such a high profile international sporting event coming to rural Wellington County may seem far-fetched, it could happen if Toronto is named the host city for the 2015 games and if a 600-acre site west of Arkell is approved as the new home for the proposed Ontario Equine Centre.
Granted, those are two very big “ifs.”
So far there has been an absence of federal support for the $1.77-billion Toronto bid, while Mayor David Miller has remained non-committal and there is some concern the bid could hurt the chances of Edmonton hosting Universiade – the World University Games – the same year, and vice versa.
Even if the Pan Am bid receives support and is filed by the Oct. 12 deadline, there’s no guarantee Toronto (and the Golden Horseshoe area) will be chosen over the four other expected bid cities: Bogotá, Colombia; Caracas, Venezuela; and Lima, Peru.
And there’s no guarantee the proposed Ontario Equine Centre will even come to fruition.
But officials from the University of Guelph and Equine Canada – two of the partners in the proposed facility – remain optimistic.
“We want to bring a world class facility here,” said Alan Meek, co-chair of Equine Guelph, the university’s equine centre, and past dean of the Ontario Veterinary College.
Meek was joined by Al Patterson, president of Equine Canada, when he appeared as a delegation at Puslinch council on July 16. The group outlined the proposed plans for lands at the northeast corner of Arkell and Victoria Roads, which are currently used for swine and poultry research and controlled by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
The plan is to transform the 600-acre site in three stages, with the goal of opening in 2011, Meek told council. The proposed equine centre will include a sales area; indoor and outdoor show facilities; health care, performance, and research buildings; association and education offices; a veterinary clinic; a polo field; large and small tracks; a five mile cross country course; and other training and recreational facilities.
Meek said he can see no better place to build the centre, given that Wellington County is the centre of the equine industry in the province, having the most horses of any other area in Ontario.
Mayor Brad Whitcombe agreed.
“It’s an ideal location,” Whitcombe told the Advertiser, explaining the land is big enough, close to the 401, and also close to Guelph, which has accommodations for any events at the centre.
And while Whitcombe acknowledged most of what the delegation wants on the site conforms to the existing zoning on the property, he stressed that it’s still very early in the process.
But looking forward, Meek said he is hopeful the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games bid will go forward and be successful, which could mean the Arkell centre would host the equine events. He also asked the support of Puslinch council.
“It sounds like an exciting project,” councillor Susan Fielding replied, adding she would be in favour of a letter of support for the facility.
Councillor Dick Visser agreed, saying, “The equine industry is booming [in Puslinch].”
Councillor Matthew Bulmer, who lives in the area, said there is a great deal of community support for the equine centre, especially because of the amount of horses in the township.
Bulmer explained there is also interest in the project beyond the township’s borders. And while he said there exists a great opportunity for the facility in Puslinch, he did not want to “prejudice” his position as a councillor in a latter of “blanket support.”
Councillor Don McKay agreed the township has to be cautious with a letter, but saw nothing wrong with providing “in principle” support. He said the facility could act as a good buffer zone between Guelph and Puslinch. McKay also suggested the delegation could involve the public in an open house event, which Meek said was a good idea.
Mayor Brad Whitcombe said it’s great to see a positive plan for the the lands, which being designated agricultural, are best suited for agricultural-related uses like the proposed equine facility.
Whitcombe also noted it is nice to see a move from intensive swine and poultry industry research to an equine use, which is more suitable given the amount of horses in the area.
“This is wonderful,” Whitcombe said of the proposal, adding the township will soon come up with a “qualified” letter of support. The mayor added there seems to be a lot of support for the equine centre in the community.
In addition to the University of Guelph and Equine Canada, other partners in the proposal include the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society, Ontario Equestrian Federation, Ontario Harness Horse Association, Horsemen’s Benevolent and protective Association of Ontario, and Standardbred Canada.
When asked at Puslinch council, Meek said there has been little discussion about a funding formula for the centre, and how much money would be sought in the form of grants.
