Township evaluating future of old arena

MOUNT FOREST – “The township is at a critical decision point regarding the future of the Mount Forest Community Centre,” Wellington North staff say. 

Third party consultants will help the township figure out the future of the community centre, known as the old arena, with results expected to come before council by the end of the year. 

CAO Brooke Lambert said a range of experts will be involved in the review, including architects and environmental consultants specializing in hazardous materials. 

Health and safety risks in the building, built in 1972, include asbestos, mould, lead and structural deterioration, as well as air quality concerns due to ongoing water intrusion. 

The HVAC system is unreliable, affecting ventilation and temperature control; there is pest activity; inadequate lighting increases risks of trips and falls; and the washrooms are “partially non-functional,” according to township staff.  

After the building closed in 2008, the township entered into a lease agreement with the understanding that, in lieu of rent, the tenant would complete capital repairs. 

“Throughout the term of tenancy, while some improvements were made by the user group, there is no evidence to indicate that key capital improvements – specifically roof repairs and mould remediation – were carried out,” states a township staff report.  

In 2025, the township resumed management of the facility and conducted structural, public health and fire safety assessments and public consultation. 

“While the community expressed a desire to keep the building open, there was limited willingness to support the significant financial investment required for upgrades and ongoing operations,” the report states. 

“Since resuming control of the facility, the township has taken a cautious, limited approach to reopening, allowing select areas of the building to be used for programming such as pickleball and seasonal summer day camps.” 

But in April, after safety concerns were identified by staff and community members, the building was closed to the public. Safety assessments were completed by the township’s chief building official and fire service, and an unsafe order was issued on April 20. 

In the recent report, staff said “given the current condition of the facility, recent operational challenges, and the level of investment required to address identified deficiencies, it is recommended that one or more qualified third-party consultants be retained to develop a range of potential options as well as associated cost estimates.” 

A comprehensive report will come to council later this year with information about inspections, historical data and expert input with options and recommendations about the building’s future, including varying levels of investment, risk tolerance and long-term strategic value.  

In the meantime, staff will work with the groups currently using the space to identify suitable alternatives. 

And for now, staff have been directed “not to entertain or discuss any potential sale of the building or land until the review is complete.” 

Councillor Sherry Burke expressed concern about the lost revenue from user groups and noted “once we displace these folks to other facilities … if we find a suitable place for them in the next six months to a year, nothing says they are coming back to us.” 

She asked if the township would consider hiring locals in skilled trades to complete the third-party assessments. 

“If there’s a way that we can … recognize local knowledge and experience, that is something we can absolutely consider,” Lambert said. 

“The building is only 54 years old, that is not an old building,” said councillor Penny Renken. “We have buildings in town well over 100 years old that are solid, and I’m hoping that the assessment that comes back is going to be in favour of [keeping] the building.”