For the first time, members of the public will have the opportunity this weekend to walk through the nearly complete Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre.
The Spirit Foundation, the fundraising body that has worked for several years to help make this project possible, will host the tour in conjunction with the town this Sunday, Feb. 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m..
Glenn Baron, the foundation’s fundraising co-chair, said he’s happy people have the opportunity to see first-hand how the building is coming together.
“The foundation and town are excited about how the construction of the building has progressed over the past three or four months,” he said.
“The construction is now at a stage where we can safely invite the community in for a short, controlled tour, so everyone can share in the excitement as the building nears completion.”
During the tour, people will be able to see how the interior is progressing and get an idea of what the facility’s main features will look like: the arena, fieldhouse, walking track, fitness centre and multi-purpose rooms.
“As the interior takes shape, you get a real appreciation for the magnitude of the project. The design of the complex, and seeing how it all ties together, is very impressive,” Baron said.
He added that he and the other members of the foundation are pleased with how the project is taking shape, considering the challenges they have faced along the way.
The main hurdles for the Spirit Centre to overcome have been the lack of support from Westlock County and the project’s initial contractor going out of business. The latter caused several months worth of delays and a 20 per cent cost overrun from the original $12 million price tag.
The foundation has been instrumental in helping to overcome some of those hurdles, however, as it was worked diligently on different fundraisers for the project. So far, the group has raised $1.1 million in committed funding, about two thirds of their goal.
The next major fundraiser is the Montreal Canadiens alumni hockey game on March 15, which will be one of the last events held in the Jubilee Arena before it is knocked down to make way for parking space.
“This will likely be one of the last events at the Jubilee arena, so we are looking forward to a full house for the farewell event,” he said.
Tickets for the game are about half sold, with three quarters of the VIP tickets gone, while about a third of the regular tickets are spoken for.
“We encourage everyone to get their tickets early to avoid the last-minute rush,” Baron said.
Once the project is complete, he said the foundation will continue to fundraise for different projects in the community, in accordance with its overall goal.
“The intent of the Spirit Foundation has always been to have a community minded-group of people willing to take on projects for the good of all, and to help develop a solid community,” he said. “We’re all hoping the foundation will attract new members and be a catalyst for worthwhile projects and fundraising events in the future.”
