Excitement is building for users of the Ma-te-Way Activity Centre as the completion of the second ice pad and the full expansion project get closer.
myFM news caught up with Renfrew’s Chief Administrative Officer, Rob Tremblay, who says that they’ve done their best to fit all community groups in at the MAC this fall as the arena’s expansion looks to be ready by early next year.
Tremblay sends kudos to their Supervisor of Recreation Operations, Randy Smith. In light of construction delays for the expansion and its second ice pad, Smith has performed a tight balancing act to ensure that every group gets the ice time they need this fall.
The community interest and demand for the additional space for recreation and town programming tell Tremblay that the new space at the MAC will be busy for years to come.
One of the more interested parties in the second ice rink at the arena is the Timberwolves Junior B Hockey Club, which moved back into Renfrew this summer.
Even then, Tremblay says they’re just the start of the community groups and residents itching to make use of the extra ice time upon its opening.
On behalf of the town, Tremblay is thanking residents for their patience as they work through lengthy delays and cost inflation, adding that the project is “close” and that they are excited to welcome people in soon.
Those issues have not been an uncommon problem for municipalities across Ontario, according to Tremblay. He points to projects of similar scope and cost in places like Wasaga Beach, which have seen similar problems arise as construction costs ballooned in recent years.
(written by Kasey Egan)
