North Bay’s Steve Omischl Sports Complex on time and budget, councillors told

The $63 million Steve Omischl Sports Complex in North Bay has managed to avoid any cost increases due to U.S. tariffs and is on track to open in August on time and on budget. (Photo from video)

The $63 million Steve Omischl Sports Complex in North Bay has managed to avoid any cost increases due to U.S. tariffs and is on track to open in August on time and on budget.

That was the work from project manager David Jackowski, who gave city council a major project update at their May 19 meeting.

Jackowski said that about $51,323,000 of the budget has been spent so far, will $11,676,000 still remaining. Workers are completing the “final finishes” on the build before it moves to the commissioning stage in July.

He said work completing the building’s interior will be done from June until August, with a formal completion date of Aug. 12.

“We are on time and we are also on budget,” Jackowski told councillors.

The project had a $1 million contingency fund, and just more than half of that has been committed to the build, he added.

While tariff risks were a concern, Jackowski said they managed to avoid any related cost increases since most items were purchased before tariffs were imposed.

Any costs that could emerge before then will be covered by the contingency fund, he added.

Coun. Sara Inch asked Jackowski whether there would be sufficient power for the new structure.

“I’m curious how we’re going to power this arena,” Inch said.

“If you could just reassure me that we have enough hydro stations, generators, etc.”

“Being an electrical power systems engineer, I can get into great detail on this,” Jackowski replied, eliciting a few chuckles.

He said that 44,000-volt service has been extended from North Bay Hydro, with 13 power lines extended to the site. There’s also anew exterior substation that can handle the arena as well as EV charging stations.

“We are all taken care of,” he added.

Booking ice time

Coun. Chris Mayne asked when user groups could begin booking ice time and other reservations.

Jackowski said they have “very high confidence in the Aug. 12 date,” adding that while he didn’t have specific details, he believed that ice booking dates “are imminent.”

Coun. Maggie Horsefield asked what would happen if there are issues that emerge after the arena complex opens.

“A deficiency would be considered something that was not delivered that was supposed to be within the contract,” Jackowski replied.

“So any cost would be borne by … (the builder) Ellis Don.”

The twin-pad arena and recreation centre also includes a walking track, a community room and 14 dressing rooms to support both indoor and outdoor sports with parking for more than 400 vehicles.

It will be one of the first net carbon-zero recreational facilities in Canada. The federal government provided close to $26 million for the project from its inclusive community buildings program.