Latest news with #PaulLefebvre
CTV News
16 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Sudbury's Valley East twin-pad arena gets $10M in provincial funding
The Minister of Sport announced $10 million for a state-of-the-art facility in Valley East featuring two NHL-sized accessible rinks and a multipurpose gymnasium The Ontario government is providing $12.6 million in funding to upgrade recreation facilities across northeastern Ontario, with the largest share – $10 million – going toward Greater Sudbury's long-awaited Valley East Twin-Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex. Neil Lumsden Ontario Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden announced $12.6 million in funding to upgrade recreation facilities across northeastern Ontario while in Greater Sudbury, Ont., on July 18, 2025. (Neil Lumsden/X) Provincial funding supports arena upgrades, economic growth The funding, announced Friday by Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden and Minister of Northern Economic Development George Pirie, is part of the province's $200 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund. The Greater Sudbury project, estimated at nearly $50 million, will feature two NHL-sized accessible rinks, a multipurpose gymnasium, daycare facilities, a café and administrative offices, positioning it as a community hub and potential event venue. 'The Twin Pads we have been talking about for over a decade now, but the city has always said we would only advance it if we had other levels of government funding,' said Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre. 'The province of Ontario established a $200 million fund for the whole province – we received 5% of that fund for Sudbury alone. That is the $10 million, which is really a recognition, I believe, by the province of the importance of Sudbury to the overall economy of Ontario.' Sport as an economic and social driver Minister Lumsden emphasized the broader impact of recreational investments, particularly in northern communities. 'I feel real strong that sport does so much more than just having people running around a field – it makes a big difference in communities,' he said. 'Especially on the sport tourism side, which drives revenue back into a community for weekends at a time. People don't always think about that, but it's important to all the businesses here.' Funding announcement - Sudbury - July 18 The Ontario government is providing $12.6 million in funding to upgrade recreation facilities across northeastern Ontario – including $10 million going toward Greater Sudbury's Valley East Twin-Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex. Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre, Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Bill Rosenberg, Ontario Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden and Minister of Northern Economic Development George Pirie are shown at the announcement in Greater Sudbury, Ont., on July 18, 2025. (Neil Lumsden/X) The province framed the funding as part of its strategy to counter rising costs while promoting active living and economic resilience. 'At a time when Ontario families are facing rising costs due to tariffs, our government is proud to support organizations focused on delivering better services,' Lumsden said in a news release on July 18. Smaller communities benefitting from repairs, upgrades Beyond Sudbury, the new sports infrastructure funding allocations include: $1 million to replace the aging refrigeration system at Espanola Arena with an energy-efficient CO₂ system. to replace the aging refrigeration system at with an energy-efficient CO₂ system. $614,600 for critical repairs at Kashechewan Arena , including roof replacement and safety upgrades. for critical repairs at , including roof replacement and safety upgrades. $585,250 for renovations at Markstay-Warren's Multiplex to expand programming like pickleball and Zumba. for renovations at to expand programming like pickleball and Zumba. $484,100 to replace the roof at Temiskaming Shores' Don Shepherdson Memorial Arena. Philip Goodwin, the executive director of Kashechewan First Nation, highlighted the significance of the funding for his remote community. 'In a fly-in access community, having an operational arena is critical to bring people together through hockey tournaments, cultural events, and community gatherings,' he said. 'These much-needed repairs mean our children, youth, families, and the wider community will continue to have a safe and welcoming space.' Northern priorities and long-term vision Minister Pirie tied the investments to broader regional development goals. 'By investing in important community spaces, our government is helping to ensure our northern communities have the resources to support their health and well-being now and in the future,' he said. Funding announcement - Sudbury - July 18 Ontario Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden, alongside Minister of Northern Economic Development George Pirie and Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Bill Rosenberg announced $12.6 million in funding to upgrade recreation facilities across northeastern Ontario while in Greater Sudbury, Ont., on July 18, 2025. (Neil Lumsden/X) Bill Rosenberg, MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin, echoed the sentiment, framing sports infrastructure as a tool for social cohesion. 'Investing in community sports isn't just about physical activity; it's about cultivating connection, inclusivity, and pride across generations,' he said. Next steps for Sudbury's twin-pad With provincial funding secured, Sudbury's twin-pad complex is expected to move forward after years of delays. The city will now focus on finalizing design and construction timelines, with the goal of creating a facility that serves both athletes and families. The Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund program remains open to applications from municipalities, Indigenous communities, and nonprofits seeking support for repairs or new builds. Ontario's total infrastructure spending under the fund is part of a larger $200 billion provincial commitment to highways, hospitals, and other critical projects. With files from journalist Alana Everson
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Gateway Casinos confirms purchase of Kingsway property in Sudbury
Years after the Kingsway Entertainment District failed, the operators of Sudbury's casino have confirmed they have purchased land in the same area. Gateway Casinos had planned to build a new casino on the Kingsway property, located near the Moonlight Beach area of the city, on land owned by Sudbury developer Dario Zulich. Costs ballooned The casino was supposed to be built alongside a new Sudbury Arena and a hotel, but years of legal battles delayed construction. By the time those hurdles had been cleared, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and costs ballooned from around $100 million to more than $200 million. The project was cancelled in July 2022. Mayor Paul Lefebvre, elected in October 2022, is instead moving ahead with a $200 million events centre downtown. Gateway, which had planned to move from its current location in Chelmsford to the larger casino on The Kingsway, was badly hit by the pandemic and went largely silent on its long-term plans for Sudbury. But on Thursday, spokesperson Rob Mitchell confirmed the land purchase. 'Gateway can confirm that the company has purchased a parcel of land at 2700 on The Kingsway,' Mitchell said in an email. 'The sale took place on June 30, 2025. At the present time, Gateway has no further public statement to make regarding any potential future development at the site.'
CBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Works starts on converting downtown Sudbury office building into apartments
Work has started to convert a commercial building in downtown Sudbury into an 83-unit apartment complex. Panoramic Properties is investing $19.8 million to convert the downtown Scotia Tower into apartments. Last year, Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre said the city would give Panoramic $1.7 million to help develop the property if the company started work on demolishing the former general hospital, which it also owns. Panoramic Properties is planning three towers at the former hospital location on Paris Street. One would contain 109 units for seniors and would include nursing stations and common spaces. The other two would accommodate 421 condos and apartments. Former city councillor Geoff McCausland, now the development and project manager with Mallette-Goring Real Estate, said both projects would be welcome additions for the city. "There's lots of people looking for places to live right now, less than a one per cent vacancy rate," he said. McCausland said he does not know the specific details of the Scotia Tower project, but said it appears to be an ideal building to convert into apartments. "If you have the right shape of the building to have a double-loaded corridor, like a main corridor with space for two stairwells at either end and units all the way around, that's a slam dunk," he said. "And it does look like that's what's possible at that location." McCausland said he hopes projects like that one can help revitalize Sudbury's downtown core, which has seen some businesses shutter their doors as the city grapples with the addiction and homelessness crises that have affected many northern Ontario communities. He expects Panoramic would charge market rates for the apartments, which is around $1,800 a month for a single-bedroom apartment and up to $2,500 a month for two-bedroom apartments. The CBC asked to speak with Panoramic president Angelo Butera, but he was not made available.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Sudbury plans for arena site after new event centre opens
Greater Sudbury is exploring options for its 74-year-old community arena, including private redevelopment or demolition after a new event centre opens. The City of Greater Sudbury is making plans for the property where the current community arena sits – and it wants to be open to all options. Sudbury Community Arena The Sudbury Community Arena is shown in this undated photo. (File photo/CTV News Northern Ontario) During a meeting Tuesday, city council asked staff to create a report on the best use for the existing Sudbury Community Arena and its land. It sits in what is called Downtown Sudbury's South District. Most councillors want to see the structure remain intact and a private developer use the 74-year-old building, however if that doesn't happen council is prepared to see the building demolished – but only after the new arena is built in 2028. If that demo happens, the land would be made into temporary parking until it's purchased by a developer for something else. Mayor Paul Lefebvre calls the vote 'a needed step forward.' 'If there is somebody out there that obviously has a good, strong business plan to reutilize the arena we could explore that,' he said. 'Certainly, that's an opportunity that council will decide and if not, once the new arena is built, we will obviously demolish the old arena and look at other opportunities as well,' Lefebvre added. 'The idea is to certainly look at commercial opportunities, looking at potential hospitality opportunities as well,' Lefebvre said, adding that they've already fielded calls from interested parties seeking details. The report from staff will plan how to bring developments forward. There will be parameters with developers expressing an interest in the old arena so that it won't sit vacant and dilapidated like the Old St Joe's hospital site. 'There's been so many events and so many championships and so many memorable things that have occurred in that building that it is heritage site in my opinion,' said councillor Al Sizer, who joked that the arena held history for him since he scored the winning goal for a city championship in 1965. 'What I want to make clear, though, is I'm not looking for the City of Greater Sudbury to own the building, but I'm hoping that we can have an expression of interest – maybe a private developer that would be able to repurpose the building.' — Greater Sudbury City Councillor Al Sizer 'I'm anxious to see how the development of that South section takes place, and I know that there are a lot of opportunities that may occur,' Sizer added. 'We're just trying to explore all the opportunities, which I think is exciting,' Mayor Lefebvre said. An engineer's report from two years ago found the cost would be substantial for the city to try to keep the community arena or attempt to renovate it to current standards.
CTV News
28-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Sudbury celebrates its first Multiculturalism Day
Greater Sudbury marked its inaugural Canadian Multiculturalism Day on Friday to celebrate the city's growing cultural diversity. Greater Sudbury marked its inaugural Canadian Multiculturalism Day on Friday. The day has been officially recognized by communities across the country since 2002 to celebrate Canada's rich diversity. 'Sudbury was built on the back of immigrants that have come here and worked hard,' said Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre. Sudbury multicultural Greater Sudbury marked its inaugural Canadian Multiculturalism Day on Friday. The day has been officially recognized by communities across the country since 2002 to celebrate Canada's rich diversity. (Amanda Hicks/CTV News) 'To our community and families, there's diversity that we get to thrive in and to celebrate.' Nickel Belt MPP France Gelinas said it's important for the community to come together to celebrate diversity. 'We live in really tough times for a lot of people right now around the world and in our own country, in our own province,' Gelinas said. 'It becomes even more important to have strong relationships, to learn from one another, to understand one another.' Dozens turned out to the ceremony at Tom Davies Square, organized by the Sudbury Multicultural and Folk Arts Association. Influx of newcomers Association president Bella Ravi said she had never heard of the day until recently. 'I was on Google a few years back, and I saw that there is such a day as Multicultural Day,' Ravi said. 'Then COVID hit and we couldn't do anything.' She said there has been an influx of newcomers to the city in the last decade. 'The last decade, it has grown, mainly because of the students initially,' Ravi said. 'But now I think our reputation precedes us now. People know it's a good place to raise a family. It's a safe place to be.' Still, she said with sour sentiments towards immigration south of the border, some of that has trickled to Sudbury. 'We have an influx, and this community was not used to that. And I get both sides of it, because when you see your community changing so fast and you're not exposed to it like you are in Toronto,' Ravi said. 'So, we are out there, trying to explain what immigration means to the economy, for our culture, for the community.' Multiculturalism will be at the forefront of Canada Day celebrations July 1 at the Sudbury Arena. CTV's Ian Campbell and Rick Wyman will be in attendance.
