While Pacific NorthWest LNG is using the former Port Edward School for office space, council says it wants to find a way to re-open the gym to the public.
Following a project update from the company’s Tessa Gill and Derek Baker, Coun. James Brown said he has heard loud and clear that community members want access to the gym as the facility at the new school doesn’t have the height needed for several sports.
“For years we have used that school for clubs and teams and I have had some people asking about it again. I am wondering if there is some way we could possibly use the gym in the evenings,” he said.
“The problem is adults can’t play in here and don’t have anywhere to go to play floor hockey or basketball … it has to be a community effort and it has to be something that is organized,” added Mayor Dave MacDonald, noting issues of security and cleanup would need to be addressed before the facility would be re-opened to the public.
While the company said re-opening the gym has been on the radar, it will now work to expedite the process.
“This is something that has come up for us in the past and something we have taken back to our project team to understand what opportunities exist to maintain that community asset,” said Baker.
“Post final investment decision, when we renovate to get more desks and offices, we were looking at ways to isolate the gym, but we will look to see if there is a way we can get it going sooner than that,” added Gill, noting the goal may be to have it open in the new year.
