Reaching out
Windsor council, staff to speak to Hockey Heritage Arena stakeholders
Windsor town council met in private for more than two hours Jan. 18 during a special session of council before passing a motion regarding the proposed hockey heritage arena.
The chief administrative officer, mayor and ‘ appropriate staff’ have been directed to speak with the interested parties that submitted arena project proposals on the various options with respect to a proposed hockey heritage centre.
Mayor Anna Allen said the consultation with stakeholders will give council an idea of where everyone is sitting at this point in time.
“The next steps are exactly what the motion said: to meet with all of the proponents who have been involved with this hockey heritage centre proposal from the get-go,” Allen said following the meeting.
“We need to talk to a lot of people; we want to look at all of the options available to us.
“Have things changed? Are they still game? Who’s still in and is money still available? Things like that.”
Allen said council would also keep in regular contact with the Municipality of West Hants, despite the failed sub-committee plan.
The two municipal units have scheduled a joint council meeting on Jan. 25.
When asked why the discussion had to be held in camera — which means members of the public were unable to listen to council’s discussions — Allen said issues of land acquisition, negotiations and other legal matters may have been discussed.
“I’m a little more hopeful now that we can get this done to meet our timeframe,” Allen said.
MP weighs in on arena
During a recent visit to announce funding for the Highway 101 twinning project, KingsHants MP Scott Brison said he remains hopeful that Windsor and West Hants councils can bring a proposal to the federal government for a new or refurbished arena in the coming months.
“If the Government of Canada receives a viable plan to build or refurbish a rink in Windsor, it will be considered for the same one-third in federal funding that applies to all recreational infrastructure applications,” Brison said.
Brison said as MP, he would be supportive of a project when one is brought forward that the municipalities agree on.
“As a citizen I really hope that West Hants and Windsor work together to bring forward a viable proposal,” he added. “I’m hopeful.”
Brison said that the federal government is unable commit to funding in any way until a concrete proposal comes forward.
“I’ve been able to fund other recreational infrastructure in this riding working with municipalities and I’d like to be able to work with these ones,” he added, referencing the East Hants Aquatic Centre in Elmsdale.