North Bay committee votes to demolish aging West Ferris Arena

As the new Steve Omischl Sports Complex nears completion, a committee of North Bay city council has voted to demolish and decommission the West Ferris Arena.

As the new Steve Omischl Sports Complex nears completion, a committee of North Bay city council has voted to demolish and decommission the aging West Ferris Arena.

Meeting this week, the committee voted 7-4 in favour, sending the recommendation to council June 2 for final approval.

The decision followed discussions and debate that highlighted North Bay’s long-term ice needs, the condition of the old arena and future plans for the recreation complex.

A study commissioned by the city determined that North Bay doesn’t need six ice pads. And the master plan for recreational facilities concluded there is no operational need for the arena.

Building conditions assessment

Built in 1967, the West Ferris Arena is located at the Sam Jacks Recreation Complex. It has ties to the origins of ringette and is often used for hockey and public skating.

It received minimal maintenance while the new complex was being built.

However, Coun. Tanya Vrebosch argued the process that led to the vote to demolish the arena was all wrong. Vrebosch said a study of the condition of the building should have been conducted before deciding whether to demolish it.

“My question is that we asked for the building condition assessment -- we didn’t get the building condition assessment,” she said.

“What we got is, ‘here’s our recommendation to demolish and here’s what it could look like and the beauty of what it could look like,’ when we’ve asked only less than one per cent of the population.”