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Thunder Bay awards stadium renovation contract to LTL Contracting

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

The estimated cost to renovate the Fort William Stadium in Thunder Bay has jumped to almost $5 million.

Work, awarded to LTL Contracting, will include replacing the rubber track and artificial playing field and installing a new LED scoreboard.

The cost includes a $200,000 construction contingency that can only be spent with city authorization and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) will provide $1.2 million and FedNor awarded $500,000.

Fort William Stadium and Legion Track is the only facility of its kind in Northwestern Ontario. The revitalized facility will be capable of hosting potential future events such as provincial and national sports events, as well as concerts and festivals. The stadium will continue to be available for use by — charity groups, elementary and high school sports, minor league sports, and residents. This project is anticipated to create five construction jobs.

The city removed field lighting and an enhanced drainage ring separating the track and turf field from the scope of work to cut the cost by $250,000.

LTL was the only bidder on the tender, which was issued in October and work is expected to begin next summer.

In a news release, FedNor said the upgrades will allow the facility to host provincial and national sporting events, concerts, and festivals, and the stadium will still be available for use by charity groups, high school and minor league sports, and residents.

“The Fort William Stadium and Legion Track is a community cornerstone in the southern core of Thunder Bay, and the FedNor funds will help ensure it remains central piece of the neighbourhood for decades to come,” said Marcus Powlowski, Thunder Bay—Rainy River MP.

“Supporting our local tourism infrastructure will help keep our economy growing, and we are proud that, through this collaboration with the City of Thunder Bay, we are helping create new growth and new opportunities for Thunder Bay and Northernwestern Ontario.”

OCP Construction Supplies donation tops $1 million for NEO Kids Foundation

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

Sudbury’s Cousineau family and their Northeastern Ontario-based company, OCP Construction Supplies, recently donated $500,000 to NEO Kids Foundation to support the future of healthcare for children and youth across Northeastern Ontario.

This generous donation brings the company’s total giving since 2020 to over $1 million, to help ensure that children across the region get quality care closer to home and to help the NEO Kids and Family Program at Health Sciences North (HSN).

“We know how vital NEO Kids programs and services are to communities across Northeastern Ontario to ensure that children get the care they need as close to home as possible,” said Rick Cousineau, co-owner of OCP Construction Supplies. “It is an honour for my family and our company to be in the position to support the great care that is being offered to our NEO Kids today and into the future – there is no greater return on investment than ensuring the health and wellbeing of our children.

OCP’s donation will support HSN’s future capital needs to care for children and their families across the region. HSN is planning on enhancing the footprint of its pediatric programs and services to accommodate new clinics, services, and more pedatricians to care for the North’s children. The goal is to ensure that as many children as possible stay in Northeastern Ontario to get the care they need, in a child-and youth-centered environment that promotes health and well-being, closer to home.

“Meaningful philanthropy helps drive transformational change in healthcare,” said Anthony Keating, President of Foundations and Volunteer Groups at Health Sciences North. “It is through the generosity of donors like the Cousineau family and OCP Construction Supplies who step up time and time again to support our NEO Kids and help us advance the quality of care children receive.

“We are beyond grateful for their generosity and amazing contribution of $1 million over the years. Their support will help provide a better future for every NEO Kid who needs to access services at Health Sciences North.”

 

Government of Canada Approves the Marathon Palladium Project

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

The Government of Canada has approved the Marathon Palladium Project following an environmental assessment conducted by an independent Joint Review Panel (JRP).

Officials say the proposed palladium mine located 10 kilometres from Marathon in Northern Ontario, along the shores of the Biigtig Zibi (Pic River) nine kilometres north of Biigtigong Nishnaabeg’s reserve, will strengthen Canada’s position as a global leader in the responsible and sustainable production of critical minerals.

Platinum group metals (including palladium, platinum and rhodium) are essential in the manufacturing of automotive catalytic convertors, which reduce harmful vehicle emissions. Copper, which would also be produced by the project, is a critical mineral for electric vehicles and associated charging infrastructure, and for the growth of renewable energy infrastructure.

It is expected to create between 430 and 550 full-time jobs for the local workforce during construction.

“Biigtigong Nishnaabeg and the Crown worked to build a collaborative relationship throughout the environmental assessment for the project,” said Chief Duncan Michano, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg. “The project is on the Exclusive Aboriginal title territory of Biigtigong Nishnaabeg and since the community is the most highly impacted by the proposed project, the Crown needed to provide Biigtigong Nishnaabeg with supports and resources that would accommodate for impacts and enable the community to benefit from the project.”

The Decision Statement issued by the federal environment minister sets out 269 legally-binding conditions to protect the environment, including mitigation measures and follow-up program requirements. Generation PGM Inc. (the proponent) must comply with these conditions throughout the life of the project. The conditions include measures to address adverse effects of the project on the current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes by Indigenous peoples, physical and cultural heritage and the health and socio-economic conditions of Indigenous peoples, as well as fish and fish habitat, migratory birds and species at risk, such as woodland caribou.

Numerous conditions include clear requirements to consult Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, including some that reference the need to “seek consensus”. This includes, for example, plans to divert the water discharge away from the Biigtig Zibi (Pic River), if technically and economically feasible, which is a culturally significant waterway for local Indigenous peoples.

A total of seven Indigenous groups actively participated in the environmental assessment process, including the public hearing, and informed the JRP Report. Crown Consultations with these groups resulted in a number of accommodation measures to address potential impacts to established or asserted rights, as recognized and affirmed by Section 35 of The Constitution Act, 1982. The Government of Canada is committed to working with Indigenous groups in a manner that advances reconciliation, respects the rights and cultures of Indigenous peoples, and ensures the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge in assessments. The Government of Canada appreciates the strong and constructive relationship it has built with Indigenous communities throughout the assessment process, in particular, with Biigtigong Nishnaabeg.