KAMSACK, Sask. — An emergency public meeting on the status of the Broda Sportsplex revealed major issues, including a leaking roof, mould, a broken ice plant and failed safety inspections.
Around 250 Kamsack and area residents assembled at the OCC Hall Sept. 3 to learn about the current status of the facility and to help town council determine a path for the future of the “heart of the community.”
Public’s input wanted
Town council had invited the community to attend an “emergency public meeting” to discuss the “future of the Broda Sportsplex.”
“All taxpayers are encouraged to attend whether you use this facility or not,” the invitation said. Discussion points were to include the current structural and financial challenges facing the facility and a review of operating and capital costs. Community feedback was requested.
“We need your help,” said Mayor Beth Dix at the conclusion of the meeting, when she admitted to have been “sick to the stomach” with the situation. “Please let us know of any suggestions or ideas. We need everyone to make it work.”
Meeting consensus is to retain facility
After about two hours of explanations and discussions, consensus seemed to indicate residents favoured a route that would retain the facility and a number of persons volunteered to work on a fundraising committee to help assure its viability.
Joe Kozakewich was among the persons who urged residents in the hall to not turn on each other as the situation proceeds. Darryl Binkley, president of the KRRC (Kamsack Regional Recreation Complex) committee, pledged its funds to the facility.
Roof leaking, mould found, inspections failed
The meeting began with Fitz Shaw, the recreation director, providing an overview of the situation and it was said that council had only recently discovered drastic shortcomings that had been identified in 2019.
Shaw went through a timeline of recent upgrades to the Sportsplex, including funding received and showed charts that indicated recent work resulted in the community being responsible for more than half its cost.
He revealed that five safety inspections undertaken this summer by an engineering firm, the fire department, the Saskatchewan government and a private contractor had all failed.
Main safety issues were outlined and included issues in the ice-making plant and the presence of mould, forcing the concession and utility room to be ordered closed and isolated, requiring immediate remediation.
Only three of 13 emergency doors were said to be functional and lighting was deemed not adequate for safe operation by staff, it was said. Significant leaking of the roof is damaging the structure.
Four possible solutions presented
Four likely options were presented on to how to proceed.
One option is to open the facility for the 2026-27 season by mitigating safety and operational deficiencies, including removal of mould and repairing the ice plant, leaking roof and doors, for an estimated cost of between $300,000 and $500,000.
A second option is to close the facility for the 2026-27 season in order to take a year to address all deficiencies adequately with intent to reopen the following season by replacing the ice plant, repair the leaking roof and access doors, renovating the concession and upgrade accessibility for a cost of between $3 million to $4 million.
Thirdly, the facility could be closed permanently, but would include likely repayment of government funds of $3.2 million, demolition and ice plant decommissioning and concrete removal, for a total estimated cost of $4.2 million.
A fourth option would be to repurpose the Sportsplex into a year-round multiuse facility containing such things as the library, pickleball courts, indoor soccer, a walking track, basketball courts and a roller skating facility, but would not include ice, for a cost of about $500,000 to $1 million.
An assessment report issued in 2019 recommended that the Town consider decommissioning the facility and replace it with a new structure designed to meet current requirements to ensure it would serve for more than 35 years. A preliminary concept was presented to demonstrate how a new facility would be accommodated on the existing site and the current facility could be operational while construction is undertaken. That plan would cost between $18 million and $20 million.
Q&A
In the question-and-answer segment of the meeting several persons expressed disappointment that much of the information had not been revealed and members of council and administration said that much of it only came to light this summer.
Mark Foster, a former rink manager, said he was upset and discussed the ice-plant deficiencies, a representative of minor hockey said that closure of the facility would “kill the community.”
Barry Hvidston, CAO (chief administrative officer) explained that many documents affecting the facility were missing.
Darryl Binkley urged council to not consider raising taxes to raise money for the facility and former mayor Rod Gardner suggested that surrounding municipalities be contacted to help generate revenue.
It was said that representatives of the provincial and federal governments be included in the discussions.
The meeting applauded when it was said that transparency is important that is was hoped that council would assure “everyone what is going on.”
Representatives of minor hockey urged council to make its decisions quickly because the season is about to start and the youngsters are eager to “get on the ice and play hockey.”
Regardless of its current state, the Broda Sportsplex is still “the envy of other communities,” it was said. “It would be a sad state if it was lost.”
Poll being conducted
In order to gauge community feedback, a poll is being conducted for “informational and advisory purposes” and includes five options.
“The final decision-making authority rests solely with the council, which will review all input and comments alongside legal, budgetary and strategic considerations,” the poll says.
The poll outlines the following options:
- do whatever it takes to open in 2026-27;
- do whatever it takes to open in 2026-27 and plan to close 2027-28 to fix issues properly;
- close for 2026-27 and do necessary updates and reopen in 2027-28;
- repurpose the facility into a non-ice multi-purpose facility to save the cost of a new plant, or
- close the facility.
Comments were welcome.
