Douro-Dummer is moving forward with the replacement of the arena floor at the Douro Community Centre.
It was determined that the floor had reached the end of it’s useful life and repairs would be required to keep the facility operational.
It was decided that the floor would be replaced and that they would also include heated floors to bring the project up to industry standards.
The initial budget including the heated floors was pegged at $2.4 million.
Once the research was complete the township sought a grant to help with the financing.
An application was completed and approved through the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund and was approved for 50 per cent funding up to $1,000,000.
In August of 2025, engineering consultant Barry Bryan Associates (BBA) was secured with the objective of completing the arena floor replacement design, developing the appropriate tender, managing the technical side of the procurement and providing overall project management services.
During the design process it was determined that the engineering of the original building was not conducive to heated floors, and thus they were removed from the design.
This brought the budget down to $2.1 million.
CAO Todd Davis told council that 30 suppliers registered for the tender, but only seven bids had been reviewed by BBA and township staff.
Davis stressed that the tender was seeking out firms with experience in this field.
The tender documents indicate the General Contractors past relevant experience must include three (3) rink slab related projects with references in the past five (5) years. The low bidder has included one (1) rink slab replacement project completed in 2013 and the other three (3) reference projects are Municipal and Community Development without relation to recreation or rink slabs.
The lowest tender was submitted by J.J. McGuire General Contractors Inc. at the price of $1,678,000, but they did not qualify in the experience category.
The next lowest bid, which was tender compliant was submitted by Gerr Construction Limited with the price of $1,815,000.00.
It was staff’s recommendation that this bid be accepted.
As part of the tender applicants were asked to include the potential addition of arena lighting over the ice surface.
Gerr Construction came in with a quote of $54,000 for the project which brought the overall tender price down to $1.9 Million.
Todd said this did not account for over runs, but as it sits would optimize the funding.
Councillor Ray Johnston asked if the township had the funds put aside for this project to which Todd assured there was $1.1 million in reserves.
Councillor Tom Watt moved that they follow the recommendation and secure Gerr Construction Limited for the position.
The motion passed.At the same meeting council was asked to approve updated Terms of Reference for the Arena Facilities Ad Hoc Committee.
Davis informed council that there was a committee in place, but they meet infrequently and the terms of reference are currently out of date.
The committee was originally formed to disperse funds totalling $35,000 that were obtained through the Kraft Hockeyville competition in 2022.
Staff attached a report that included updated terms of reference for the committee. Davis said there were two significant areas of change along with a number of administrative changes.
The first major change was the purpose and function of the group. It is proposed that this committee be charged with developing the project proposal and develop funding for a feasibility study or a possible master plan for the townships recreation facilities.
If approved the group would take on the role of steering committee.
The hope is to have a plan come before council for the 2028 budget.
The second major change would be the committee makeup.
Staff would not be members of the committe, but rather it will be made up of community members and stakeholders such as Douro minor Hockey as well as dry floor users.
Councillor Tom Watt said he agreed with the use of community members, but said it should go further and make sure both Douro and Dummer wards are represented.Councillor Ray Johnston asked if the meetings would be open to the public to which Martina Chait-Hartwig - Clerk - Deputy CAO responded that all committee meetings are open to the public and are listed on the township website.
Mayor Heather Watson asked if any of the funds the present Ad Hoc Committee are responsible for still remain and if so how much?
Davis responded that he did some research n the committee which was formed in April of 2022, appointed membership in May of 2022 and convened the first meeting in August of 2022.
The main objective was the disperse the $35,000 from Kraft Hockeyville.
Davis told council that $10,000 went directly to Douro Minor Hockey which was used to renovate the girls locker room and purchase new nets for both arenas.$25,000 was allocated to the township for facility upgrades.Davis said that the committee appeared before council with a request that the township match the $25,000 that was provided to support the committee’s work which was approved and allocated in the 2023 budget.
Davis reiterated that the work of the committee was not substantial after 2023 and that being said the $25,000 supplied by the township was not spent and still remains in reserves.
Davis went on to say that the money provided by Kraft Hockeyville was also not spent in its entirety. Davis said there is between $10,000 and $15,000 remaining on that tab and he would return to council with accurate numbers at a future meeting.
Davis stressed that any of this money that is saved in reserves must be spent on facility upgrades.
Councillor Watt moved the recommendation and the motion passed.
The current Ad Hoc committee members and staff support for said committee are as follows:
Chair – Heather Watson
Committee Member – Jim Bailey
Committee Member – Kerri Riel
Committee Member – Liam Ryan
Committee Member – Gerard Sullivan
The staff who support the Committee are:
Manager of Recreation Facilities – Mike Mood
C.A.O. – Todd Davis
Legislative Services Assistant – Patti O’Grady
and/or Clerk – Deputy CAO – Martina Chait-Hartwig
