Indoor Recreation Facility Plan History

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A dedicated Indoor Recreation Facility (IRF) has been a long-standing community need which has been articulated through the Tofino Recreation Management Plan as well as through the various design phases of the proposed facility. Significant public engagement has been undertaken related to the proposed project over the last decade.

The purpose of this Talk Tofino page is to inform the public on the background and history of Tofino's Indoor Recreation Facility Project to date. 

A rendering of the Indoor Recreation Facility 

History

In 2015, The Tofino Community Recreation Facility was identified in the Tofino Recreation Management Plan as a critical objective in the pursuit of improved community recreation opportunities.

A feasibility report in 2015 identified two siting options for the proposed facility; one adjacent the existing Tofino Community Hall, and one adjacent to the Wickaninnish Community School. The report concluded that the Community Hall location be chosen “…because it is already a social hub, it’s within walking distance of the school and downtown, and new activities would have minimal impact on neighbours.”

In 2018, A site plan was developed to provide a preliminary building program and cost estimate for a proposed facility at the Community Hall site.

In 2019 a facility-specific program was developed in support of a funding application to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The work completed included a geotechnical review, a survey and civil engineering, a functional program, a cost benefit analysis, a risk assessment, a pro-forma financial projection, and an environmental review. The various inputs resulted in the design of a 1,190 m2 facility consisting of a gymnasium and bleachers, washrooms/change rooms, storage, fitness room, small office, multi-purpose room and entrance/lobby. The resulting design, valued at $10 million, based on a Class C estimate included:

• Gymnasium

• Parking and future road alignment

• Trailhead realignment

• Provision for a potential future pool facility

• Site clearing and preparation (blasting and fill)

• Outdoor public space

• Transit and pedestrian connections

At the March 8, 2022 Council meeting, after the District’s funding application for that grant was unsuccessful, Council directed staff to proceed with the development of a Class B design in advance of the anticipated GICB grant opportunity.

On February 21, 2023, Council directed staff to apply for the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Grant Program. Should the District’s application to the GICB program be approved, the District will be required to extensively engage with the community regarding the financial implications of the project.

February 2024: The District of Tofino was notified that the application for funding to Infrastructure Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program, aimed at supporting the construction of the Tofino Community Recreation Facility, was not successful. With the grant application not selected for funding, the project will not proceed at this time. Still, the District remains open to revisiting it if funding becomes available. While the District of Tofino's application for funding for the Tofino Community Recreation Facility was unsuccessful, the commitment to enhancing recreational opportunities within the community remains. Through ongoing partnerships and future planning initiatives, the District aims to continue providing accessible and diverse recreational options for its residents.

A dedicated Indoor Recreation Facility (IRF) has been a long-standing community need which has been articulated through the Tofino Recreation Management Plan as well as through the various design phases of the proposed facility. Significant public engagement has been undertaken related to the proposed project over the last decade.

The purpose of this Talk Tofino page is to inform the public on the background and history of Tofino's Indoor Recreation Facility Project to date. 

A rendering of the Indoor Recreation Facility 

History

In 2015, The Tofino Community Recreation Facility was identified in the Tofino Recreation Management Plan as a critical objective in the pursuit of improved community recreation opportunities.

A feasibility report in 2015 identified two siting options for the proposed facility; one adjacent the existing Tofino Community Hall, and one adjacent to the Wickaninnish Community School. The report concluded that the Community Hall location be chosen “…because it is already a social hub, it’s within walking distance of the school and downtown, and new activities would have minimal impact on neighbours.”

In 2018, A site plan was developed to provide a preliminary building program and cost estimate for a proposed facility at the Community Hall site.

In 2019 a facility-specific program was developed in support of a funding application to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The work completed included a geotechnical review, a survey and civil engineering, a functional program, a cost benefit analysis, a risk assessment, a pro-forma financial projection, and an environmental review. The various inputs resulted in the design of a 1,190 m2 facility consisting of a gymnasium and bleachers, washrooms/change rooms, storage, fitness room, small office, multi-purpose room and entrance/lobby. The resulting design, valued at $10 million, based on a Class C estimate included:

• Gymnasium

• Parking and future road alignment

• Trailhead realignment

• Provision for a potential future pool facility

• Site clearing and preparation (blasting and fill)

• Outdoor public space

• Transit and pedestrian connections

At the March 8, 2022 Council meeting, after the District’s funding application for that grant was unsuccessful, Council directed staff to proceed with the development of a Class B design in advance of the anticipated GICB grant opportunity.

On February 21, 2023, Council directed staff to apply for the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Grant Program. Should the District’s application to the GICB program be approved, the District will be required to extensively engage with the community regarding the financial implications of the project.

February 2024: The District of Tofino was notified that the application for funding to Infrastructure Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program, aimed at supporting the construction of the Tofino Community Recreation Facility, was not successful. With the grant application not selected for funding, the project will not proceed at this time. Still, the District remains open to revisiting it if funding becomes available. While the District of Tofino's application for funding for the Tofino Community Recreation Facility was unsuccessful, the commitment to enhancing recreational opportunities within the community remains. Through ongoing partnerships and future planning initiatives, the District aims to continue providing accessible and diverse recreational options for its residents.