The big reveal for Phase 1 of the new Port Coquitlam community centre (PCCC) is next Tuesday afternoon.
And PoCo residents can lace up their skates to be among the first to take a spin on one of the two rebuilt rinks.
The inaugural public skate, which will be free, will happen from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Arena 3 (purple rink).
Mayor Brad West and city council — plus 10 contest winners (see details below) — will get the initial crack at the ice during the grand opening party that runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at the $132-million facility.
Besides the skate, the bash will also include a community block party outside — with a free barbecue, RCMP and fire displays and live entertainment — and, inside, tours every 15 minutes, activities, free coffee and cookies in the Wilson Lounge, and ice cream at the concession.
The speeches, plaque unveiling and ribbon cutting are at 5 p.m. and, at 6 p.m., Mounties will face off against PoCo firefighters for an exhibition hockey game on Arena 2 (green rink).
With construction ongoing, attendees are asked to walk, cycle, take transit or carpool as parking is limited.
West said he’s looking forward to welcoming PoCo residents to see inside the first part of the rec complex.
“I encourage people to join us at the grand opening and get a first-hand look of the new centre,” he told The Tri-City News. “I’m sure they’ll be impressed with the look and feel of the building. It’s quite something."
Started by the previous council, the capital project is the largest in the city’s history and was funded with: borrowing ($52 million over 30 years); internal and reserve funds ($41.2 million); the sale of city land ($17 million); a federal infrastructure grant ($12.5 million); tax levies from 2015 to ’19 ($7.3 million); and an annual parcel tax ($2 million). The $25 parcel tax ends next year.
The complex is being built by Ventana Construction — the same general contractor responsible for the Langley Events Centre and the Prospera Centre in Chilliwack — with city oversight by Tango, which provides progress reports to PoCo’s committee of council each month.
Still, while the first phase opens Aug. 27 and includes the two ice sheets, the new Terry Fox Library, multi-purpose rooms, recreation administration, games room, Wilson Lounge and a commercial kitchen, the leisure pool and fitness centre won’t ready until early next year.
As for Phase 2, its opening will be gradual as well: The summer of 2021 is the projected opening for the third ice sheet, the gym, a children’s area and large multipurpose room. And the fall of 2021 will see the opening of the underground parking, café and outdoor plaza.
Demolition of the south facilities for Phase 2 is expected to begin soon while regular schedules for Phase 1 start next Wednesday; it will be open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Visit portcoquitlam.ca/pccc or call 604-927-7529 for programs or 604-927-5420 for construction project inquiries.
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CONTEST
To enter the contest, post on social media why you’d like to be the first to skate on the new rinks, by either:
• Following the city’s Instagram or Twitter channel @cityofpoco, tagging the post with #PCCCFirstSkate and tagging two friends;
• or sharing the Facebook event (found at facebook.com/portcoquitlam) and tagging two friends.
Email submissions are also accepted at communications@portcoquitlam.ca.
The contest is open to Port Coquitlam residents of all ages who can skate, with one entry permitted per person (children under age seven must be accompanied on the ice by a guardian 16 years or older on skates).
The 10 winners will be contacted Aug. 23.
