Construction of North Bay’s new Recreation and Community Centre is well underway at the Steve Omischl Sports Field Complex. Since the official groundbreaking on December 5, 2024, site preparation has been completed and foundation work is progressing—marking a major milestone in the $63 million project.
Once finished, the modern, accessible facility will feature two ice pads, a walking track, a large community room, and 14 dressing rooms to support a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities year-round. Designed to meet Version 3 of the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Design Standard, it will be one of the first net-zero carbon recreational facilities in the country.
The project is being funded with more than $35 million in federal support, including $25.7 million from the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program and $9.4 million through the City’s allocation of the Canada Community-Building Fund. An additional $1.5 million is being contributed from the City’s share of revenues through its hosting agreement with Cascades Casino and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
Led by EllisDon Corporation using a progressive design-build approach, construction remains on track for completion in August 2026.
- The project has a total budget of $63 million, which includes a guaranteed maximum price of $61.4 million, a contingency of $1.1 million, and $500,000 in internal costs.
- The municipal taxpayer-funded share of the project is $24.8 million, after excluding federal contributions, OLG game revenues, and Municipal Accommodation Tax revenues.
- The complex will feature 408 parking spots, including 14 accessible spaces.
- The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program was created in support of Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. It is supporting the Plan’s first pillar by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and helping develop higher resilience to climate change.
- The Canada Community-Building Fund is a permanent source of funding provided twice-a-year to provinces and territories, who in turn deliver this funding to local governments for local infrastructure priorities. The Canada Community-Building Fund has 19 project eligibility categories, including capacity building, sport infrastructure, and broadband connectivity. In Ontario, the Canada Community-Building Fund is administered by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).
- The Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) is a 4% fee applied to short-term accommodations of less than 30 consecutive days. This includes stays at hotels, motels, lodges, inns, bed-and-breakfasts, dwelling units, or other lodging establishments. Sixty percent of the MAT revenue funds Tourism North Bay, supporting the local tourism industry, while the remaining 40% is used by the City to invest in tourism-related infrastructure.
Why is this project happening?
The North Bay Community and Recreation Centre will replace the aging West Ferris Arena, ensuring that the City continues to provide the community with recreational services and opportunities within an improved and modernized facility. The new facility will add an ice pad to the City's existing inventory, helping to better meet demand as demonstrated through public consultation and the findings of a Multi-use Recreational Facility (MURF) Feasibility Study, which was updated in 2019 (MURF).
Key Features
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Watch It Take Shape: Community Centre Time-Lapse
Contact
David Jackowski, P.Eng.
Project Manager, Special Projects Operations and Infrastructure