Despite the $2 million price tag, Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake mayor and council chose to proceed with a grant application for future upgrades to the Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena last week.

Village recreation coordinator Logan Wilson presented a grant opportunity offered by the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development's community recreation program to council.

The provincial grant program aims to invest in capital projects that will make communities healthier, active places to live. The grant opportunity is open to communities for the construction and upgrading of recreational infrastructure such as arenas, trails, walkways and playgrounds and priority will be given to smaller communities.

Up to 80 per cent of the proposed $2 million arena upgrade costs would be covered by the province, while the municipality would be required to pay the remaining 20 per cent, which equated to $400,000.

Terms of the grant funding also require construction to be completed before March 31, 2015.

"With 80 per cent funding offered by the province it is something that we don't want to pass up," said Sheryl Worthing, village chief administrative officer.

She said four projects were identified as having the potential to be submitted for the grant and asked council to choose which option to proceed with.

Option one: A $2 million expansion to the Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena. The expansion would include office space, a weight room, an open common room for training seminars and meetings, a viewing area for the curling rink and the arena, repairs to the curling rink roof, an admission area to the arena, an elevator to be shared by the curling rink and the arena, a common concession area for both the curling rink and the arena, more storage, and washrooms, a second floor at the arena for squash courts and a children's play area for year round activities. The expansion would also require updated architect drawings at a cost of $150,000 to $180,000.

Option two: Completion of a walking trail system that is part of phase two of the village's downtown design plans. The trail will lead along Gilgan Rd. and Government St. and cost up to $7,500 to complete.

Option three: A multi purpose outdoor arena open to the public year round, free of charge. The project has been proposed by the 亚洲天堂 Lake Rotary Club. The $202,000 project would be located at the Dick Schritt Ball Field. It would be a community ice rink with hockey boards in winter and during spring, summer and fall would be open to the public for ball hockey, lacrosse, basketball, roller skiing, roller skating and could be a place to hold farmer's markets.

Option four: An arboretum trail on School District 91 property behind the Lakes District Secondary School fields. The trail would be planted with a variety of native trees and educational plaques would be added. The two phase project has been proposed by the 亚洲天堂 Lake Soccer Club and has a price tag of $41,760.

Mayor Bernice Magee said, "Would the outdoor arena be the responsibility of the village to organize and maintain?"

"Yes, it is something council has already agreed to doing and supported," Worthing answered.

"I also don't know about issues with the arboretum trail, because it is not on village property, it is on School District 91 property," Worthing said.

Councillor Quentin Beach said, "For option one, why can't we just use the architect drawings we already have for upgrading the arena?"

Wilson explained that the architect plans were drawn up 1989. "The plans are no longer viable, they are plans for upgrades, but they were drawn up before there were dressing rooms in the arena. They are outdated."

He went on to say that the $150,000 to $180,000 cost is because architects charge seven per cent of the total construction costs for plans to be drawn up.

"Did you say $150,000 to $180,000? I have to pick myself up off the floor, that's a lot of money for plans," said mayor Bernice Magee. "Can we afford this? We are also looking at funding a new health care facility," she asked.

"Between now and when we submit the application in December we wouldn't be spending $150,000. The original plans we have  will fit with what we require for now, but if council choose to proceed we would eventually have to update the plans," Worthing said.

"I think the upgrades would go a long way to attracting people to the area. It would be a true sports-plex and to get something like this would be great. Sometimes we have to spend a bit to get what we want. I like the idea and realistically we are going to have to spend money on the arena to maintain it anyway," Coun. Beach said.

Worthing also added that if council proceed with option one, the application will take Wilson a month to complete.

"What if we spend all this money on the architects fees and don't get it ... are we prepared to do that?" asked Coun. John Illes.

"I think the application would be strongly looked at. There is also the 2015 Winter Games [to be held in Prince George] coming up and they are looking at facilities to train athletes," Worthing said.

"It wouldn't be money wasted, if we miss out we would have a shelf ready project for the next funding opportunity," said mayor Magee.

"What about staffing? Would an arena expansion require more staff?" asked Coun. Luke Strimbold.

Wilson said, 鈥淭here would be more need for additional staff. We would need someone at the front desk to rent out equipment. We could also use the people we already have working there ... it depends on how it all works out, but there would definitely be a couple of new positions."

To cover the additional $400,000 cost of the upgrades, Worthing said the village would apply for grants from the Dick Nourse Legacy Fund, Nechako Kitimaat Development Fund Society, Northern Development Initiative Trust, First Nations funding opportunities, Regional District of Bulkley Nechako area B, 亚洲天堂 Lake rural and area E, Francois/Ootsa rural gas tax funds, local business donations and local fundraising initiatives.

"How realistic is it to go for this?" mayor Magee asked.

"You tell us to go ahead with it and we will do it," said Worthing.

"There is $30 million in grant funding available [from the Ministry] we are just looking for $2 million," Coun. Illes said.

"Facilities are lacking in the North especially for coaching courses. If we get this upgrade we would be the only people in the Northwest offering a coaching course and it goes along with the plan for the 2015 Canada Winter Games .... they are looking for a place to host regional camps, there is a big emphasis on hosting," Wilson said.

Coun. Beach made a motion to apply for the grant funding for the arena expansion. The motion was unanimously supported by council.