Murray Wood: Who's hot and who's not
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The hub of Aberdeen has closed its doors.
After 15 years of operation, the Aberdeen Recreation Complex closed down this week due to mounting maintenance costs, an outstanding mortgage and repairs it’s unable to pay.
Mayor Ryan White said after plenty of meetings, the town had to make the difficult decision to close rather than risk equipment breaking down midway through the winter when the centre is busiest.
“The possibility of having a major breakdown that we wouldn’t be able to then cover, the decision was made rather than part way through a season we would shut the doors now,” White said.
The recreation complex opened in 2005 after plenty of fundraising in the community.
But problems began for the multi-use facility early on. White said the original contractor went bankrupt halfway through construction and issues with the geothermal system were discovered as well.
Now, the town and the R.M. of Aberdeen sharing the costs are unable to continue paying the $1.9 million mortgage and the pricey repairs needed in the next few years.
“Death by a thousand cuts. It was just right from the beginning,” White said.
“We couldn’t make it that thriving, viable entity. At some time you just got to stop everything, take a look and really see is this model working or can we change it and make it something better?”
COVID-19 didn’t help the financial outlook. Saskatoon-based hockey teams looking to scoop up cheaper ice rental rates in Aberdeen were non-existent, as were a variety of other profitable opportunities because of the pandemic.
“How do you run the hub of the community when the community can’t gather in it?” White said.
McDougall Auctioneers Ltd. ran an auction for the month of July to try and find a buyer, but the auction was unable to find a suitable partner.
According to McDougall’s auction page for the centre, the not-for-profit Aberdeen and District Charities Inc. which runs the complex ran out of options.
“The increasing financial demands of operating the Aberdeen Recreation Complex along with the large cost of the existing mortgage has made it unreasonable and financially unsound to continue this current business model,” the auction house’s website said.
The facility spans roughly 70,000 square feet and includes an ice hockey rink, four curling sheets, exercise rooms, a lounge and spectator seating on the top and bottom levels.
According to McDougall, the land and building was assessed at $10,076,900.
White is hoping to partner with Affinity Credit Union, the centre’s banking institution, to find a financial solution.
He understands no one in Aberdeen wants to see the complex closed.
“Small town rinks are vital to the community, and this just highlights the challenges that come up. The smaller communities don’t have massive operating budgets that have to deal with this, and how emotional it can be,” White said.
