As part of my responsibilities, I am required to visit the construction site on Abenaki Road on a regular basis, and each time I am on site, I am amazed at the progress being made on all components of the facility.
It's difficult to notice driving by the hub of activity that is taking place inside the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre, from work on the arena slab floor to tiling in washroom facilities throughout.
Most who have had the opportunity to visit the site comment that you can't appreciate the enormity of the almost 150,000 sq. ft. facility until you stand inside on the upper level overlooking the arena and down into the aquatic and fitness centres.
It truly is going to be a state-of-the-art facility that our region will benefit from for generations. The project team is anxious for the day that the community can experience all that the centre will have to offer.
The ice pad is rapidly moving towards the day the first pair of skates will carve through the ice surface. Construction of the ice pad continues with all necessary piping, sand and cooling tubes being laid, awaiting the finishing touches of the concrete slab. Once the concrete has been poured, it will need to cure for about 28 days and then the process of ice making will begin.
Also in the arena, the pre-cast bleacher seating has been completed and the more than 2,500 fixed seats have arrived on site and the construction team has already begun the installation process.
Both the leisure pool and the 25-metre competitive pool in the aquatic centre continues to take shape and equipment is currently being purchased for programming opportunities in the fitness centre. Exciting and unique pieces of cardio equipment will be available to members that are not readily available elsewhere in the region and will serve a broader user group.
These are exciting times at our new recreation and wellness centre.
When the doors are opened to the centre, it will surely be the ‘place to be' in our community. Visit the Ignite the Spirit campaign website to enter your name for a chance to ‘become the first member' of the new centre. But don't wait, as the contest deadline is approaching quickly (Aug. 31). By entering your name, you will also receive information regarding facility memberships, event information and other important opportunities leading up to and after opening day.
You don't want to miss out on all that will be happening at the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre.
The Ignite the Spirit campaign team continues to strive towards its goal of $5 million, which involves raising funds from the community that are needed to complete the project. Businesses such as E. Lynds Enterprises and Scotsburn Dairy have been instrumental in helping the campaign reach the home stretch but the community's help is still needed to reach the finish line.
The Name that Seat Campaign continues to be an opportunity for residents of the region to leave their mark on the new centre.
Many people have used this opportunity as a way to remember a loved one or to honour a family member.
For more information on the Name that Seat Campaign and other opportunities to donate, visit the campaign website or phone the campaign office at 893-9706.
A comment was recently made to me that our community's new facility is not an "average" building.
We are fortunate to have the opportunities that the new centre will bring to our region and believe it will be a pillar in our community that we can take great pride it. As it has been said before, the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre will not only be another rink or swimming pool, it will open doors for our region that would not have been possible if it had not been for the vision and dream of many instrumental people in our community.
Heather Fraser is the fundraising and public relations assistant for the Ignite the Spirit campaign in support of the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre.
