North Bay city council votes nearly unanimously for a new $63M arena

North Bay city council voted almost unanimously on Monday night to approve a new sports complex which will include two NHL-sized rinks for nearly $63 million.

In addition to the two ice pads, the facility will also include a walking track and  community room.  It will be located at the Steve Omischl Sports Complex on Lakeshore Drive in West Ferris.

"I'm very pleased," North Bay Mayor Peter Chirico told Radio-Canada following the vote.

"It's been a long time in the coming, over 12 years of discussion."

The facility is designed to be a net-zero building, which means it will qualify for $26 million from the federal government's Green and Inclusive Community Buildings fund.

"About 60 per cent of it is covered by the taxpayer and the balance of it through the green program, which is going to help offset that money that needed to be spent," Chirico said.

When asked about other issues for the city, such as dealing with the homelessness and drug crisis that has affected all communities in northern Ontario, Chirico said council always has to deal with competing priorities.

"We continue to make housing a priority, but this is part of our investment in infrastructure. We need to continue to invest in all facets of our community," he said, noting the city is working with other levels of government to address the housing crisis.

Coun. Jamie Lowery was the lone vote against the project.

During the council meeting, Lowery raised concerns about falling participation levels in hockey and what he perceived as the lack of a business plan to run the facility after it's built.

"We don't know what the impacts are going to be on users with the costs and whether the appetite will still be there should the cost of rentals go up," he said.

But other councillors said a new arena and sports complex are sorely needed.

"Our arena infrastructure, with the exception of Memorial Gardens, is aging," said Coun. Justine Mallah.

"The facility that we will be replacing, the West Ferris Arena, has reached the end of its serviceable life. While I personally do not engage in ice sports, I firmly believe that our current and future residents deserve modern functional infrastructure to support their recreational needs."

Work on the project is due to start at the end of November and it will be completed in August 2026.