Transcona community centre scores $9M expansion

Winnipeg's Transcona areahas scoreda majorinvestment that will see its community centre expanded at a cost of $9 million.

The East End Community Tri-plex will receive a new indoor sheet of ice and new, modern facilities as part of the48,000-square-foot expansion, slated for opening in fall 2014.

The cost will beequally shared by the city, province andthe community centre.

"With todays announcement, families and children can look forward to new, modern, arenas to meet their needs," said Mayor Sam Katz in a press release.

"Our older arenas are no longer meeting the needs of the community and I am extremely grateful the volunteers at East End Community Centre are showing such incredible community spirit and determination to make this expanded multi-plex viable over the long term."

This expansion plans include:

• A new sheet of rink ice.
• 500-seat bleacher area.
• Added and renovated locker room and shower facilities.
• 3,000 square feet of new recreation programming space.
• Modernized canteen.
• New entrance, new foyer, pro-shop and increased parking.

Roland Michener Arena to be demolished

The majority of arena facilities in Winnipeg are over 40 years old and no longer meet the needs of community residents, states a city news release.

"The city is working to implement an arena strategy aimed at improving and modernizing recreation facilities throughout Winnipeg, while at the same time strengthening our community centre model, a unique made-in-Winnipeg recreation system," the release stated.

A city report recommends that Roland Michener Arena (which has an estimated deferred infrastructure deficit of $5 million to $8 million) be decommissioned, declared surplus and the land sold for the purpose of a seniors housing project, with net proceeds from the sale to be reinvested in the Transcona Centennial Aquatics park and pool.

Thearena will remain fully operational throughout the 2013-14 hockey season.