County moving forward with $30 million dollar Brant Sports Complex expansion

By Casandra Turnbull

A Toronto based architect was awarded the $30-million expansion project for the Brant Sports Complex.

County Councillors approved the RFP during a late September council meeting. MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects Inc has asked for $1.95 million (plus HST) to design the 50,00060,000 sq ft expansion, which is set to include a triple gymnasium with storage, an indoor walking track, gender neutral changeroom/washroom flex spaces, multi-purpose rooms, customer service and office spaces, a pro-shop and other amenities as space planning allows.

When the original feasibility analysis plans for this expansion project were presented by the County of Brant Parks & Recreation Department in spring of 2023, the estimated cost at the time was $22 million. That cost has increased since staff recently reviewed facility contract awards – and the new estimated cost is closer to $30 million.

When news broke late last month, many residents have since inquired why this expansion does not include an indoor pool, something many residents asked for during several parks and recreation open houses in June of 2023 However, to apply for crucial provincial funding, the county has decided to push this expansion project through now, rather than amend the plans and miss the deadline to apply for the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund.

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Project will include triple gymnasium, indoor walking track, more changerooms/washrooms and multi-purpose rooms

Application for that funding is underway now Project funding is contingent on projects being completed by March 31, 2027. Aside from potential provincial funding, the cost of construction will come from multiple sources, including development charges, the Parkland Dedication Reserve, fundraising and tax support, according to county staff.

The 80,000 sq ft. Brant Sports Complex, complete with two NHL size ice surfaces and 700 spectator seats and several community meeting rooms, opened in 2011. It cost around $20 million to complete. Talks to build the state- of-the-art facility were in the works for more than 15 years before it was finally approved and constructed.

This newly proposed expansion, according to the county documents, is required to keep up with steady growth and ensure that resource challenges to accommodate the current and future demand for recreational activities, programs and services are met. Schools in Paris are at capacity so it’s becoming more difficult for Parks and Recreation staff to utilize schools for recreational programming. Right now, the county relies on local schools to provide space to fill the 10,000 hours (annual) of gymnasium time for these types of programs (according to a June 2023 interview with Stacey Ellins, Director of Parks and Recreation). Daytime programming for seniors has also dramatically increased

The expansion project will provide skilled trade jobs in the County for the anticipated 15-month construction period.

The Brant Sports Complex addition will be a hub for many activities and revenue will be generated to offset some of the operational costs It is anticipated that several FullTime Equivalent (FTE) positions will be created to deliver programs and maintain the facility.