STRATFORD, P.E.I. — A community campus committee is looking at whether there may be funding available to build an events centre for P.E.I.’s 2023 Canada Winter Games.
However, Coun. Jill Burridge, who chairs the committee, made it clear during Wednesday’s Stratford council meeting that it will ultimately depend on what residents want to see included in the long-term vision.
Burridge provided an update on the committee during the meeting and said the town will soon “kickstart” a public engagement process.
She also said the campus committee, which recently held its first meeting, wants to see if residents would be in interested in creating an ice surface in time for the games if funding is available.
“Because (a rink) is a big-ticket item,” said Burridge, who emphasized the concept is still in an early, preliminary stage, “I want people to be clear this is all conceptual at this point.
“Nothing is locked in, and it’s going to be a phased approach. We’re not doing everything all at once.”
“Nothing is locked in, and it’s going to be a phased approach. We’re not doing everything all at once.”
-Coun. Jill Burridge
There is no Olympic-size ice surface in P.E.I., which means the short track speed skating events during the games may have to be held outside of the province.
There was previous speculation Charlottetown may build a new arena for the games. However, that has become increasingly unlikely as the project is not on the city’s wish list for capital projects this year, and Coun. Mitch Tweel, who chairs Charlottetown’s parks and recreation committee, has since told The Guardian an arena would not be rushed for the games.
Meanwhile, Burridge said site selection for the Stratford community campus, which proposes to eventually house a junior and senior high school as well as the town’s recreational facilities, is currently underway.
While the campus is still years away, the project already appears to be a high priority for residents.
Preliminary data pulled from the town’s resident engagement survey, which had about 400 responses, showed the campus as residents’ second highest priority behind active transportation trails.
In addition, residents stated their top priorities for the campus, in order, were active transportation trails, a public library, a multi-purpose space and an ice arena/skating oval.
'Quick turnaround'
Burridge said the committee hopes to complete the public engagement process by the summer.
“We have a quick turnaround,” she said. “In September, we want to be able to have a design and layout of this campus.”
Jeremy Pierce, Stratford’s director of recreation, culture and events, has been researching other Canadian and U.S. community campuses in anticipation of the major project.
He said the campus could ultimately be as limited or as big as the community wants.
“I think it’s a unique opportunity for our town, one that has to be planned out diligently,” he told council.
The long-term vision, which would be the largest project in the town’s history, was unveiled to residents in August. In September, the Public Schools Branch voted to back a plan to build a secondary school in the community, which has $38 million allotted in the province’s capital budget over four years.
Mayor Steve Ogden said he was pleased with the work done by the committee, which he said includes a balance of councillors, residents, members of the academic, construction and business communities and even a student.
The town’s biggest challenge with the project will be balancing the “dreamers with the pragmatists,” said Ogden.
“Dream big but also be realistic in terms of what we can do and afford.”