The City of North Bay celebrated an important milestone in the construction of its new Community and Recreation Centre at the Steve Omischl Sports Complex last month.

City officials, project partners and community user groups signed a structural steel beam in celebration of further progress on the construction of the facility on August 28.

With the steel frame nearing completion, the city says the centre is one step closer to becoming a year-round hub for recreation, wellness, and community gatherings.

The facility will include two ice pads, a walking track, a multi-purpose community room, and 14 dressing rooms to support both indoor and outdoor sports, from hockey and ringette to football, soccer, softball, and cricket.

The building is designed to meet the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Standards, which includes all-electric building systems, a high-performance building envelope, and a CO2 refrigeration system. It is projected to be one of the first of its kind in Canada to meet the standard.

“After years of planning and hard work, this facility is becoming a reality,” said Mayor Peter Chirico. “It will be a welcoming space for residents of all ages and abilities to come together for sports, recreation, and social activities.”

Once the steel frame is complete, construction crews will move on to steel decking and finishing work, followed by the building envelope phase, which includes roofing and exterior walls.

“This facility will be an asset to so many in North Bay and Nipissing-Timiskaming for many years. It will provide modern amenities for ice sports, much-needed changing facilities for field sports, and inclusive spaces for the community,” said Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Pauline Rochefort. “The net zero-carbon footprint is leading edge, and this design and construction choice helped the City of North Bay receive a $25.77 million grant through our federal government.”

The City of North Bay is directing $1.5 million in contributions from OLG toward the Recreation and Community Centre project.

“OLG is proud to be a vital part of the City of North Bay,” said Kathleen Devine, OLG’s Senior Municipal Relations Manager. “For the last 50 years, 100 per cent of OLG profits are reinvested in Ontario to support provincial priorities, from critical infrastructure to community programs. We also recognize the contributions of gaming employees at Cascades Casino, who are helping make life in North Bay better. When you play at an Ontario casino, you play for Ontario.”

EllisDon Corporation, the lead contractor, is using a progressive design-build process to balance cost-effectiveness with functionality. The project remains on track for completion in August 2026.

The project has a total budget of $63 million, which includes a guaranteed maximum price of $61.4 million, a contingency of $1.1 million, and $500,000 in internal costs.