ERIN – The Erin Community Centre (Centre 2000) will receive roughly $1.9 million in federal and provincial funds for a much-needed renovation, Town of Erin Mayor Allan Alls says.
Funding for the project, dubbed the Erin Community Centre Rehabilitation and Renovation, was announced July 6.
Work to be completed at the community centre is one of 35 recreational and community infrastructure projects across the province.
The federal and provincial governments will contribute $1,056,000 and $879,912, while the Town of Erin will contribute $704,088.
The centre, which was commissioned in 2000, was in great need of the renovations, according to Alls. Since its implementation, there’s been little money available for upgrades.
“We’re very grateful,” he explained. “The money is absolutely needed for the work that needs to be done.
“It means an updated and more usable facility,” he added. “For instance, I think one of the things that we know that needs to be done is the theatre building. The equipment that we have is very dated and doesn’t function properly.”
As part of the renovations, the centre will see the addition of digital equipment and updating seating.
The $2.64 million upgrade will also see the installation of a fixed emergency generator, health and safety upgrades to the electrical, HVAC and refrigeration systems, roof structure replacement, and a new alarm system in addition to accessibility improvements to the elevator, washroom, and signage.
Alls said most of this work was identified when the town had an audit of all its municipally-owned structures. The work that will be completed in Centre 2000 was a result of that audit.
“Plus, the fact that myself and my council have wanted to create a shelter in case of natural disaster or emergencies where citizens can go, now we can afford to put in an emergency generator that will run Centre 2000 in such an event,” the mayor added.
Once the renovations are completed, the centre will act as an emergency structure.
“We really don’t have, other than the two fire halls, any place that people could go that are backed up with a generator,” Alls explained.
“So that was the idea, and it came out during an emergency planning exercise that we really do need to do something.”
The money received will be strictly used for the renovations requested by the town, no other facilities will be added at this time.
“We can’t be sidetracked into building a swimming pool or splash pad,” Alls said. “That’s not how you get money out of the federal government or the province.
“You’ve got to demonstrate a need and a reason why you need to do it. We’re really looking forward to using these funds, there’s a great need,” he added.
In order to proceed with the implementation, council will have to go through a request for proposal process for the “big-ticket” items, which is expected to come to council later this year.
In response to the approval process, Alls predicts it will be late this year or early next year before any of the work gets underway for the renovations to be completed.
