Moose Jaw building on multiplex plan (Local Vernon Firm MQN are Architects)

Karen Brownlee, The Leader-Post Published: Thursday, January 10, 2008

Moose Jaw Mayor Dale McBain has seen the multiplex on paper and he says 2008 will be a decisive year for his city's residents to see it constructed. McBain foresees many important decisions being made in 2008 -- a location and a budget are a couple -- so that construction can begin. City council and others in Moose Jaw have been working since at least late 2004 towards having a multiplex constructed as a new home for the Moose Jaw Warriors and to allow soccer and curling enthusiasts to enjoy their sports.

As chairman of the multiplex steering community, McBain got to look at conceptual plans during a committee meeting on Wednesday morning. MQN Architects of Vernon, B.C. was directed to draw up plans based on an arena known as Prospera Place in Chilliwack, B.C. To satisfy Moose Jaw's needs, curling and soccer facilities would be added.That budget is expected in February. The architects are consulting construction firms in Moose Jaw and Regina about costs in this province to be accurate."They're somewhat reluctant to throw any numbers out without assessing the Saskatchewan construction scene," said McBain.Where the multiplex will be built will come down to one of three sites. One of the sites is the current Civic Centre location, another is in the downtown west of 1st Avenue between High and River streets and the third is on 9th Avenue Northeast."The conceptual plan that they came back with was not really site-specific. It would fit on any of the three sites under consideration," said McBain.

It is expected that city council will be presented a report with a suggested location, design and budget in February as well. Council will have to decide on those details so that tenders can be requested. Not all the money needed to build the multiplex is in place yet either. The province has committed $8.3 million to it through the Building Communities Fund. The federal government has promised to match that amount pending the announcement of the location and the building design. The city has put forward $10 million and will match up to another $5 million if that amount is raised within the community. The community has gathered $50,000 in an account dedicated to the project. Another $1 million has been pledged to the project. "Once the design and location is rolled out, my understanding is the community is ready to go ahead with their fundraising," said McBain.