Canadore College to build new $8.5M indoor sports complex
Canadore College in North Bay is building a much-coveted multi-use sports complex, which has been in the works for the last 10 years.
It will be located behind the college's Commerce Court campus and will allow for year-round sports, training and sport development for local leagues and student athletes.
Artist rendering of Canadore College's new sports dome. June 16/22 (Eric Taschner/CTV Northern Ontario)
"This facility will give us that competitive advantage where we can now go and compete at a higher level," said Michael Miscio, the coach for Canadore men’s indoor soccer team.
Canadore's multi-use facility will feature an 85,000-square-foot dome with indoor turf and hard court surfaces.
Sports including soccer, tennis, basketball and baseball can be played in the building. A driving range is also going to be available.
There will also be opportunities for training and sports conditioning in the dome.
"We're at a real disadvantage. We practice and prepare in North Bay, typically in indoor facilities like the gym, through the fall semester and then we compete in a facility we've never practiced in," Miscio said when asked how his team will benefit from the building.
The build will cost more than $8.5 million.
Additionally, a 6,200-square-foot clubhouse will be attached with much-needed change rooms and meeting space. The facility will be open to the public and outside teams and leagues on a fee-for-use basis.
"We're the only club in both our leagues, whether it be the NFC or the OSFL, that doesn't have a facility like this," said Marc Mathon, the North Bay Bulldogs Football Club president.
"We can start in September we can go to mid-October and go inside and go until Christmas."
Over the years, North Bay Mayor Al Mcdonald heard from sports fans and athletes about the need for an indoor turf.
Thursday's announcement follows on the heels of a $26-million funding promise made on the weekend by the federal Liberal government for the new twin-pad arena and recreation centre in West Ferris.
"When you really look at it, they complement one another," McDonald said.
"We've got indoor turf where our citizens wanted one, but we knew Canadore was going to do it. They knew we were going to do a walking track for seniors. There was no need to duplicate it here."
The project is a 10-year dream, which started through a city feasibility study done to assess the need to build or improve recreation facilities.
"We really wanted to dust off this project and make it a reality,” said George Burton, the college's president and CEO.
"I said 'Fine. We can do it, but we have to work awfully hard to make it a reality,' and they did. So I have to give kudos to our senior team."
Construction starts right away and it's expected the indoor sports complex will be open by September 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.