Elliot Lake's longtime hockey and skating headquarters, Centennial Arena on Spruce Avenue, has been closed to the public since late February.
It was shut down as a precaution following the collapse of the roof over the south wing of another city-owned structure, the Lester B. Pearson Civic Centre, on the evening of February 21. The Civic Centre roof proved unable to support the weight of accumulated snow and ice from the winter of 2019. It remains off limits.
Hours after the Civic Centre roof collapse, City of Elliot Lake officials decided to close a number of other city buildings including Centennial Arena and Collins Hall as a precaution.
Work was done to clear ice and snow from the building roofs and structural inspections were carried out. Aside from removal of Centennial Arena roof snow and ice, the future of the 50-year-old timber framed structure has been in doubt for many years.
For one thing, the roof leaks. The Elliot Lake Wildcats junior hockey club and the Elliot Lake Figure Skating Club and it's ice show were both forced to retreat to Blind River to conduct their activities.
"The arena truss structure is nearing the end of its life. We want to remove some of the cladding from the roof and from the arena siding to conduct non-destructive testing," said the city's Chief Administrative Officer Daniel Gagnon during Tuesday's meeting of Elliot Lake City Council.
"We will have to do them in a phased approach. Following an assessment, we have an estimate for some of the other work. (i.e. $70,000 to $80,000). We also need to spray the roof membrane ($80,000)." (To stop the roof leaks), Gagnon added.
"We will soon get a gut feeling as to whether we can use the arena in the fall. We should know in a week and if it turns out the worst case scenario, and the arena can no longer be used, we will know."
Council unanimously approved spending up to $80,000 to hire two companies looking for answers.
The company that replaced some Centennial Arena roof tresses in 2016, Phoenix Group 2011 of Sault Ste. Marie will receive up to $30,000 for its inspection work.
Wood Research and Development Canada of New Brunswick will be paid up to $50,000 to check for wood rot.
The best hope is to extend the life of Centennial Arena by two more years.
"Do we need to pre-approve the funds?" Councillor Chris Patrie asked the CAO, Gagnon, there should be enough money in reserves to cover the work. Council voted unanimously to go ahead with the arena inspection.
"We are cautiously optimistic about next fall," said Councillor Ed Pearce said, who is a member of the Elliot Lake Wildcats junior hockey club's Board of Directors
"The Wildcats have tryouts in Barrie in about three weeks. The players will be signing with the team in June." Pearce said, "In the case of minor hockey we have a little more time. We may have to play in Blind River."
"Will Tulloch (engineering firm) and Wood Research also examine the wood trusses in the swimming pool?" asked Councillor Tom Turner.
The CAO replied, "I hope that will happen this week."
At play as well are on-going discussions about the feasibly of building a Community Hub to accommodate a new arena to replace Centennial along with five curling sheets, a swimming pool and physical exercise facilities, all under one roof.
Mayor Dan Marchisella favours building a new arena in the long-sought Community Hub, on city owned land at 151 Ontario, and not where it is now.
"We are looking at a $285,000 bandaid to get two more years out of Centennial Arena," said Marchisella.