A rendering of the multiplex and arena concept exterior. (City of Meadow Lake website)

By Angela Brown

Community talk

Information session planned for new arena and multiplex facility

Apr 22, 2024 | 1:42 PM

People interested in seeing how the new Meadow Lake arena and multiplex facility, known as the Co-op Centre, being built is developing are invited to attend a community information session taking place tomorrow.

The event will be held at 7 p.m. at the Meadow Lake Civic Centre, located beside the new facility being built.

“It’s going to be an opportunity for the public to learn more. We’ll walk through what’s going on in the facility and give an update on the fundraising campaign,” said Tom Gorsalitz, part of the consulting group, DCG Philanthropic Services Inc., for the project. “We’ll have detailed photos taken today or tomorrow and have them presented during the night.”

The City of Meadow Lake and DCG Philanthropic Services are jointly hosting the information session. DCG Philanthropic Services is also helping organize the fundraising campaign for the build.

During the presentation, The City of Meadow Lake Parks and Recreation Manager Regan Beck will discuss what will be inside the new facility, such as the arena, the field house, and the events centre, which was recently approved. Initially, it was not in the project scope, but it has since been added, Gorsalitz explained.

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“He [Beck] will be going through detailed photos and capacity, and give people more of an idea about what will all be inside the facility,” Gorsalitz said. “I’ll be speaking to give an update on the fundraising campaign, and where we’re at currently, which is good.”

Gorsalitz noted about $3.5 million has been raised through donations to date. Meadow Lake Co-op made a $3 million donation. From that amount, $2.5-million went to the naming rights, and the remaining $500,000 was to be matched with the community through the “CO-OP Community Builder Campaign.”

“There will [also] be an opportunity for questions from the community,” Gorsalitz said of the event.

“The commitment from the community has been great thus far,” he added. “We work on a multitude of different fundraising campaigns but Meadow Lake has been a strong and generous community. There is still a good way to go.”

He added all the volunteers in Meadow Lake have been really engaged in the project as well.

Gorsalitz also noted there is expected to be a special announcement on the project coming up later this week.

The construction of the centre is currently underway and on time for the facility, that’s expected to be completed around late March 2025.

“They [the crew] had a good mild winter, so they got a lot done,” Gorsalitz said. “That’s why I think they are about a week ahead [in timelines].”

Gorsalitz is excited with the progress made so far by the firm Quorex Construction Services.

“It’s great,” he said, adding that the information session will be educational. “The whole community has been itching to learn more about it. So, we’re happy to be able to host an event that’s open to the public. Anyone that’s available can come.”

Beck is also hopeful for a good turnout at the information session.

“They can ask any questions if they have any,” he said. “We’d be happy to see some people [there].”

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @meadowlakeNOW