SUDBURY -- After the planned donation from the Fabio Belli Foundation fell through, Rainbow District School Board is picking up the whole tab for the new sports dome at Lasalle Secondary School.

It was a legacy project late Sudbury City Councillor Fabio Belli dreamed of before his sudden passing six years ago. The indoor sports bubble was finally completed in February of this year and is about to begin its first full year of operation.

When the Ontario government rescinded the $4 million funding when Premier Ford came into power in 2018, the price tag was supposed to be covered by the public school board and the Fabio Belli Foundation. 

However, because the $1 million pledged by the memorial foundation was not realized, the school board will take full control over the facility, officials said in a news release Friday.

Located on the grounds of the New Sudbury high school, the dome will be used for the school's programs and extra-curricular activities, but due to COVID-19, community use remains on hold.

"The name of the dome will reflect its location and its ownership," said Rainbow District School Board. "The board will also collaborate on the creation of a plaque to celebrate and commemorate the vision of the late Fabio Belli, which has now come to fruition."

With the use of the sports dome, students will be able to play sports typically reserved for the summer months throughout the school year. The facility will also be used for dryland training and the school's Sports and Healthy Active Living Program that focuses on elite athlete development, healthy active living and sports administration.

This school year, Lasalle will open to intermediate students in Grades 7 and 8 as well. A new campus for French Immersion students in JK – Grade 6 is also being constructed on-site and is scheduled to open in 2022. 

More to come on this story, check back for updates.