Multi-rink arena for the Plateau: 

Call for tenders launched

The tendering process for the multi-rink arena in the west-end of Gatineau was officially launched during the week of December 16.

The construction of this arena, which will require a minimum of three ice rinks, has been subject to two major delays in recent years. Audrey Bureau, Councillor for Aylmer, is clear that it is four ice rinks that the west needs: “If the successful developer were to propose that the City build a three-rink complex, I would strongly oppose it. The west needs at least four rinks.”

The first major delay occurred when the choice of land behind D’Arcy McGee High School, proposed a few years ago, had to be cancelled due to significant delays in obtaining the environmental permits required to build in a wetland environment at 100 de la Boussole Street.

The second delay was caused by last year’s floods, which significantly changed the schedules of municipal councillors, postponing by two months the presentation of the new land chosen in the Plateau to elected officials. 

The Multivesco private group will manage the complex to be built on the 38,000 m2 land adjacent to the Canadian Tire on Boulevard du Plateau. The City acquired the land at a cost of $11 million.

 

This new complex will allow the City to make the long-awaited additional ice hours available for the western sector, as well as office and warehouse rental space for ice sports organizations.

The City plans to rent out 6,705 hours worth of ice time per year in this private sports complex.

If everything goes as planned, the complex would open in 2022, two years later than originally planned.