The Laval West Arena was the last indoor ice rink built in Laval, dating back to 1990.
(Photo: Martin Alarie)
New ice-rink complex coming to Laval?
Project submitted to city hall; $10,000 allocated for preliminary analysis
Complex de sports de glace Laval inc. has deposited a project for the construction of a multiple ice-rink facility. The president of the company is Michel Demers, who occupies the same role with Laval Minor Hockey.
"We believe the city is listening," confided Mr. Demers, after submitting the project to mayor Vaillancourt's chief of staff, Pierre Lafleur and municipal officials Jean-Pierre Tessier, Paul Lemay, and Benoit Collette. City hall has allocated $10,000 for a study to determine the feasibility of the complex, which if built will provide ice time for hockey, figure skating, speed skating and ringuette.
"We were hoping for a quick response from the city. Now we can proceed with the next stages," Mr. Demers proudly stated.
The $10,000 allocated for this study is part of the fund set aside in the 2008 budget for assessing the city's needs relative to providing new sports and recreation facilities for its growing population.
Rousseau involved
A private partner, Rousseau Sports, is part of the project, having kicked in $5,000 of its own toward a market study.
The cost of the project, which foresees an Olympic-size skating rink, a regular rink, and two smaller ones, has been estimated at $30 million. Plans call for one of these rinks to accommodate 6,000-7,000 spectators for major sports and cultural events.
Michel Demers now says that a firmer commitment from the city is required before his organization invests at least $50,000 for a detailed market study. "We need a few guarantees from city hall."
Mr. Demers's volunteer non-profit organization is presently lobbying the city to take part in the Provincial Program for Maintenance of Sports and Recreational Facilities, with a view to building a new arena, with substantial seating capacity. Mr. Demers has not discounted the possibility of actualizing the project through a public-private partnership (PPP). "These programs have allowed several municipalities to build new sports and recreation facilities," Mr. Demers emphasizes.
In an interview with Courrier Laval soon after the tabling of the 2008 budget, mayor Vaillancourt expressed a willingness to support realistic projects. "We need sustainable projects that can function effectively. We will back all serious proposals."
The way Mr. Demers sees it, the new rinks are needed as soon as possible and would like to see the complex built before the end of 2008. "We'd like to have them for September of 2008, but we'll gladly take them in early 2009. We have to be realistic."
At present, Laval has nine arenas (Saint-François, Yvon Chartrand, Cartier, Chomedey, Samson, Laval West, Richard-Trottier, Mike Bossy, and Lucerne). The Laval Coliseum is privately owned.
Photo202
(Photo: Martin Alarie)
Steven Guilbeault - 
