Construction of the new Whitecourt Culture and Events Centre to be located downtown is set to begin this summer.
At a special meeting held Monday, July 8, council unanimously voted to enter into a $44,175,000 contract with Clark Builders to construct the facility. Construction is set to begin this summer and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Whitecourt Mayor Tom Pickard believes this new facility will greatly enhance the quality of life for Whitecourt and area residents.
“The Culture & Events Centre represents a significant investment in our community. It will vitalize the downtown, and put Whitecourt on the map as a cultural hub in north central Alberta,” said Pickard. “Facilities such as these are key to enhancing not just the community’s quality of life, but also driving economic development and investment attraction for years to come.”
Town officials believe the new facility will be a landmark for the community and will consist of three components:
- An Arts, Culture and Convention Centre designed to host a variety of concerts, trade shows, festivals, events, conventions, and celebrations.
- A new library that should provide increased floor area and space to better serve the region. It can provide a safe and accessible place for the community to learn and gather, and increase operating efficiency.
- A Town Administration Office, with Council Chambers, that will enhance customer service and accessibility, and provide an administrative facility that can grow with the community.
Officials say the construction plans were separated into 32 separate components (electric, plumbing, framing, etc.) and they received 94 bids on the project before settling with Clark Builders as the general contractor. The total cost of this project is estimated to be just over $44 million, with $32 million in funding being provided through both the provincial and federal governments.
Experts believe the construction of the Culture and Events Centre will inject more than $7.9 million into both the tourism and materials/equipment supply sectors. It is also believed that around 25 per cent of the required labour will be provided locally which equates to about 100,000 worker hours.
More information on the Culture and Events Centre can be found on the Town of Whitecourt website. Officials say construction updates and sponsorship opportunities will be posted to the Centre’s Facebook and Instagram pages (@CultureandEventsCentre).
The Town would like to thank residents for all the input they have provided through former councils, steering committees, community forums and individual comments throughout this process.
