Fort William Gardens is about to get a green makeover with an investment of over $2.3 million from the Government of Canada and the City of Thunder Bay. Announced by Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Rainy River, and Dominic Pasqualino, Acting Mayor, City of Thunder Bay, retrofitting the iconic landmark will ensure it remains a fixture in the community for future generations to enjoy all while cutting green house emissions and reducing energy consumption.
The Fort William Gardens was built in 1951 and has become a vital part of the South Core community of Thunder Bay. Modernizing the facility will make it a greener and more accessible focal point in Northern Ontario for hockey, figure skating, and curling championships as well as attracting performers for concerts and cultural events. In addition, the City will continue to use this facility for affordable city-sponsored programs that are accessible for all.
Through this investment, Fort William Gardens will undergo an extensive retrofit. These improvements are expected to reduce the facility's energy consumption by an estimated 29.4% and greenhouse gas emissions by 164 tonnes annually. The planned changes include:
- Replacing dressing rooms and washroom fixtures.
- Swapping the roof, doors, and windows with energy efficient models.
- Redesigning the ice-making process to store the heat produced during so that it can be used to heat the building and melt excess snow from cleaning the ice rink.
- Upgrading the ventilation systems in the building offices to improve air quality.
- Replacing the cooling tower and condensing unit with one that is more reliable and energy efficient.
- Retrofitting the ticket window, entrance, concession area, and counter space so it is more accessible for patrons with diverse mobility needs.
The federal government's Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program - that is helping fund this project - aims to improve the places Canadians work, learn, play, live, and gather by cutting pollution, making life more affordable, and supporting thousands of good jobs. Through upgrades to existing public community buildings and new builds in underserved communities, the GICB program is ensuring that facilities are inclusive, accessible, and have a long service life, while also helping Canada move towards its net-zero goals.
