WFCU Place Officially Opens in North Bay

Residents, community organizations, sports groups and dignitaries gathered today to officially open the WFCU Place, North Bay’s new community recreation centre at the Steve Omischl Sports Field Complex.

Delivered on time and on budget, the $63-million community recreation centre welcomed community members and project partners for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, kicking off a weekend of activities inviting residents and visitors to explore the new facility.

“This is a proud day for North Bay,” said Mayor Peter Chirico. “WFCU Place is the result of years of planning, advocacy and collaboration. This facility will provide residents of all ages and abilities with a place to stay active, connect with others and enjoy recreation for years to come. I want to thank our funding partners, community groups and everyone who helped bring this project to life.”

The facility includes two regulation-sized ice pads, an indoor walking track, community meeting space, and 14 dressing rooms designed to support indoor and outdoor recreation year-round.

The project was made possible through investments from all three levels of government and key community partners, including more than $35 million in federal funding through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program and the Community Stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund.

“Today we celebrate a very big and exciting milestone for North Bay. The new Community Centre will provide residents with an accessible and sustainable place to be active, have fun and connect with others in the community,” said Pauline Rochefort, Member of Parliament for Nipissing–Timiskaming and Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State. “This Community Centre will support the wellbeing and growth of North Bay for many generations to come.”

The project’s federal investment helped deliver a facility designed with sustainability in mind. WFCU Place is one of the first full-sized recreational facilities in Canada to meet the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Design V3 standard. It includes energy-efficient systems, reduced carbon emissions and design elements that support future renewable energy integration.

The Government of Ontario contributed $2 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) toward the project. The province also invested $1,675,000 through the Ministry of Sport’s Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund in the cricket and multi-use field currently under construction at the Steve Omischl Sports Field Complex, further enhancing recreation opportunities at the site.

“Ontario is proud to celebrate the North Bay Community and Recreation Centre’s completion. We look forward to seeing the positive impact the space has on individuals and families in our community,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “This fully-accessible, modern facility will improve access to recreational activities for residents, while also attracting visitors and enhancing our tourism and hospitality sectors in Nipissing.”

In addition, the City directed $1.5 million in municipal contributions from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) – generated through Cascades Casino North Bay – toward the project.

“OLG truly values being a long-standing partner in the city of North Bay and to communities across Ontario. Every dollar of OLG’s profit is returned to Ontario to support the things people care about most, like critical infrastructure, local initiatives, and community events,” said Kathleen Devine, OLG Senior Municipal Relations Manager. “Those dollars are making a difference here in North Bay. The impact wouldn’t be possible without the great team at Cascades Casino, whose work supports both the local economy and community well-being. When you play at an Ontario casino, you play for Ontario.”

WFCU Place was delivered through a progressive design-build process led by EllisDon Corporation.

The opening celebration continues throughout the weekend, with residents and visitors invited to tour the facility, take part in free skating opportunities and experience a variety of activities. The full schedule is available at: https://northbay.ca/crcopening

Quick Facts

• The total project budget was over $62 million.
• The project was delivered on time and on budget.
• The facility includes:
  • Two regulation sized ice pads
  • An indoor walking track
  • Community meeting space
  • 14 dressing rooms
  • Accessible recreation spaces for year-round use
  • The complex will feature 406 parking spots, including 14 accessible spaces.
• Key sustainability features include:
  • waste heat from the CO2-based ice plant serves as the primary heat source for space and water heating
  • cutting edge cold climate heat pumps serve as a secondary heat source
  • reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions compared to conventional designs
  • designed to support future solar and battery integration

Funding contributions:

• The federal government invested over $25.7 million through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program and over $9.4 million through the Community Stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund.
• The Government of Ontario invested $2 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation
• $1.5 million in municipal contributions from OLG generated through Cascades Casino North Bay
• $1.5 million in Municipal Accommodation Tax revenues.
• The municipal taxpayer-funded share of the project is approximately $23 million, after excluding federal and provincial contributions, OLG game revenues, and Municipal Accommodation Tax revenues.

Background:

• 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 supports the Plan’s first pillar by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and helping develop higher resilience to climate change.
• The Community Stream 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 Community Stream has 19 project eligibility categories, including capacity building, sport infrastructure, and broadband connectivity. In Ontario, the Community Stream is administered by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Government of Ontario and the City of Toronto.
• The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), an agency of the government of Ontario, supports economic growth in Northern Ontario by providing funding to businesses, communities, and organizations. Its goal is to create jobs, improve infrastructure, and promote innovation, helping the region grow and diversify its economy.
• The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) provides municipality contribution agreement (MCA) payments to municipalities that host a land-based casino site. MCA payments are provided on a quarterly basis and are based on a graduated scale of slot machine revenue, in addition to a share of live table game and sportsbook revenues from casinos with these offerings.
• 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.