Despite missing the cut on recent upper level funding for a twin-pad arena, Chatham-Kent’s mayor isn’t giving up hope for a new complex.
Mayor Canniff says there could be more opportunities for help after speaking with Premier Doug Ford during his recent stops in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.
“We spoke about our flooding, our shoreline and also infrastructure spending,” says Canniff. “Premier Ford made a statement that he’s putting together an infrastructure fund working with the federal government and he hopes to pull something out in the next while that may allow us to apply again for the arena funding.”
The mayor says if that doesn’t work out in Chatham-Kent’s favour, the $18.5 million that’s been placed in reserves could potentially go towards repairs and upgrades to the municipality’s existing arenas.
Fixes and renovations needed for Chatham’s Memorial Arena have been an estimated value of $18 million.
