The Ottawa Police Service has cut $34 million off the cost of its proposed new training centre, including eliminating the gym and 50 parking spaces, as it continues to explore options for the new “Professional Development Centre” for officers. The Ottawa Police Services Board directed staff to find savings after the initial price tag for the new “Professional Development Centre” at the new south police facility was $233 million. Board members also approved a motion for police to explore building a shared facility with other emergency services agencies. A report for the Ottawa Police Services Board Finance and Audit Committee meeting on Friday shows staff have reduced the price tag for the new facility to $199 million. “The descoping review focused on reducing non-critical components such as gym, pedestrian walkway, reduced parking and contingency adjustments while preserving the core operational and training requirements,” staff said. According to the report, the removal of the gym will save $4 million, with members using the south facility gym or renting a gym space as needed. Other savings include $4 million by reducing the change management provision, $3.7 million in savings by reducing the parkade from three levels to two, and reducing contingency and allowances tied to the descoped items by $13.8 million. Police say the descoping proposal would not reduce classrooms, simulation and scenario-based training space, the defensive tactics and practical skills areas, and the permanent indoor firearms range. The proposed new 82,000 sq. ft. multi-storey facility would be built on 7.5 acres of undeveloped space where the south division headquarters is under construction on Prince of Wales Drive in Barrhaven. The service currently conducts training at Algonquin College and other sites across the city. In 2024, Algonquin College served the Ottawa Police Service with a termination notice that required police to exit all spaces at the college. Police can continue to use the firearm range at Algonquin College until 2033. Shared facility? The Ottawa Police Service continues to explore two options for the training centre – a standalone police facility at the Barrhaven police station or a joint facility with the Ottawa Fire Services. The board directed staff to explore five options for the new training facility, including a shared facility with other departments, securing long-term firearms range access through existing federal or institutional range operations, or funding from upper levels of government. Staff say three options are not feasible: the status quo using leased OPS training facilities, using federal/provincial funding and new leased facilities for police training. The report says the Ottawa Police Service and Ottawa Fire Services are pursuing a joint training facility with Ottawa Fire Services at an undeveloped site. “Feasibility is primarily dependent on favorable site-specific land assessment results,” staff said. “If favorable, OPS will work with Ottawa Fire Services to develop a joint costing estimate, including further review of scope, governance, ownership, cost sharing, procurement, schedule, and shared and dedicated training.” Staff say a new Ottawa Police Service professional development centre at the new south station is a “feasible long-term facility solution.” “Since initially costing out this option, OPS has completed a de-scoping review to reduce non-training elements while preserving core training, firearms range, and operational readiness requirements,” staff said. “The revised estimate has been shared with City Finance for review of traditional City debt financing and P3 options.”
