Update:
Sudbury's French Catholic school board tells CTV News that the construction of the city's other sports dome at École secondaire Sacré-Coeur on Notre Dame Avenue is still planned for this summer.
The school board is planning for an official opening in the fall.
Original:
The Rainbow District School Board is moving ahead with plans to build a new multi-million dollar soccer dome in Sudbury without provincial backing.
Ontario’s previous Liberal government had promised $4-million in funding for the project, but the Ford government rescinded the money when it came into power.
Plans to erect a multi-use sports facility on the field at Lasalle Secondary School will now move forward.
The $4-million price tag will be covered by RDSB and the Fabio Belli Foundation.
$1-million had been previously committed by the school board, $2-million will come from reserves, and the other million comes from the Fabio Belli Foundation.
Board officials say this decision was long overdue.
“All we have to do is look at the weather the last little while, even southern Ontario, they have a lot of sports domes, but we have an even shorter season than they do. So, this is something really special for the kids." said Doreen Dewar, RDSB chair.
The new facility will consist of three soccer fields, or one convertible FIFA-sized field or baseball diamond.
A second indoor sports dome project is planned between the Sudbury District Sports Club and the French Catholic school board to be built at the current Sacré-Coeur field on Notre Dame Avenue.
