More Research On Civic Arena

Vernon council is going to get another opinion on if the Civic Arena can be used for another purpose.

Councillor Brian Quiring says the city will talk to an engineer to see if foundation problems first identified in 1989 — still exist — and then get a quantity surveyor to estimate how much that repair could cost.

“That’s the first thing we need to do, and once we have an understanding of that cost, then we can decide how to move forward.”

Quiring feels it will be a complete waste of time and money for studies to see if the 80 year old building can be re-purposed — and he would like to see it torn down.

However, not all council members feel the same way.

Councillor Bob Spiers feels the 80 year old Civic can be re-purposed once the new arena at Kal Tire Place opens next year.

“There are all kinds of ideas floating around of what you could re-purpose it for: a farmer’s market. I think it would be an ideal spot for for the museum and art gallery,” says Spiers.

Mayor Akbal Mund says it doesn’t make sense to spend money to study proposals for the building, when the repairs may be unaffordable.

“This is going to give us a cost indication. We can still go to the public and say, ‘This is going to cost us 13 million dollars to fix this up to do this. Should we do that, or should we just build something new” says Mund.