Steinbach seeking more government funding after Event Centre tender skyrockets

The city of Steinbach is reaching out to the upper levels of government in an attempt to gain more funding for the construction of the Southeast Event Centre.

On Tuesday night, Steinbach City Council awarded the tender for this project to Graham Construction and Engineering Inc. The project will include two indoor ice surfaces, with one of those being able to convert into a concert or event centre. There will also be a multi-use hall that can be used for volleyball, basketball, futsal or pickleball. In addition, there will be an atrium for public gathering space and a walking track.  

The original estimate for this project was $42.5 million. However, when the lowest bid came back at $75 million, plans were made to trim those costs by revising mechanical and electrical components and constructing the facility in one phase instead of two phases.

As a result, Steinbach City Council has approved the tender for $61 million. To make this project possible, the city is committing a further $13 million and the private sector has committed another $10 million.

"I'm very pleased that the Southeast Events Group has stepped forward," says Steinbach Deputy Mayor Michael Zwaagstra. "They initially committed $15 million; they are increasing their contribution to $25.5 million."

Further grant funding is also being sought through additional requests submitted under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) and also through the Manitoba Arts, Culture, and Sport in Community Fund. Steinbach Administration anticipates responses to these requests in early 2023.

In July of 2021, the Government of Canada announced more than $9.5 million towards this project, through ICIP, with the province adding more than $7.9 million. A spokesperson for Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen says the funding provided by the provincial and federal governments to the Southeast Event Centre was the full amount requested by the proponents at the time. Manitoba has asked the federal government to allow for cost overruns to be funded through ICIP and is awaiting a response. 

Meanwhile, Provencher Member of Parliament Ted Falk says at this time he has not been asked by Steinbach City Council to support a request for additional federal support.

The Centennial rink is scheduled to be demolished next summer, with completion of the new facility expected by fall of the following year.