The city is moving forward with plans for a regulation-sized cricket pitch at the Omischl Sports Complex.
Council approved the general site selection on Tuesday night, with the exact location at the Lakeshore Drive sports complex still to be determined.
“I spoke to a local business owner who said that having the cricket pitch, diversifying our amenities, is helping her to attract new employees,” says Councillor Tanya Vrebosch. “We don’t talk about it enough that cricket, hockey, or whatever it is, they attract people and it’s because we have amenities like this.”
A staff report says the initial estimate for the project cost is $2.5 million.
“This would fit very nicely with the new planned community centre,” says Councillor Mark King. “I honestly believe that there are some synergies that when you recognize during that construction may reduce the cost of that particular development.”
Construction on the cricket pitch is expected in 2026, depending on funding from grant opportunities, and further council approval.
Meantime, a proposed fresh water Olympic-sized pool at the Birchaven Cove will be a part of council’s budget deliberations for next year.
This after a public presentation on Tuesday night.
Avid swimmer Kelly Wallace says the three-sided dock structure would include two swimming lanes.
Along with the healthy and active living benefits, she says the facility could offer youth aquatic leadership courses and help fill a void with lifeguards, be a second-option training facility for the North Bay Titans swim team and much more.
“There’s also lots of potential for new programs that we’ve not had before,” she says. “Water polo, aquafit, volleyball, swimming lessons for children. There’s potential for some of our post-secondary or secondary institutes to use it for some of their leadership or aquatic skills training.
Wallace adds local emergency services could also use the facility for training, too.
She says based on discussions with local companies involved in such work the cost is estimated to be about $60,000.
Wallace notes a few service clubs and community-minded organizations have expressed interest, provided there’s support from council.
The community services committee will further investigate the idea as a part of next year’s budget talks.
Councillor Vrebosch also filed a notice of motion involving the proposal for the next council meeting.
