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Future of Lethbridge’s Exhibition Park could become an election issue, says CEO

May 23, 2017 | 2:15 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Exhibition Park CEO Rudy Friesen says the future development of a new Trade and Convention Centre could very well become a hot button civic election issue.
 
Speaking to reporters outside of the Main Pavilion, Friesen said he is happy the city decided to commit $1.1 million in the 2018 CIP, towards a new detailed design and other “shovel ready” documents.
 
“We’re optimistic to a certain extent I guess, because at the start of the week, we were out of the queue. We weren’t even there. So to come back at the end of the week and then get some money for shovel ready was important to us.”
 
Exhibition Park has also committed $1.1 million towards the design, for a total of $2.2 million.
 
What is still up in the air, is what will happen after those plans are completed, and when actual construction can begin.
 
During the last CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) in 2013, City Council conditionally approved $25 million dollars for construction of a new Trade and Convention Centre. But with $62 million dollars in unrestricted funding for the 2018 CIP, council had to amend that proposal.
 
“I guess what the disappointment for us is that when you’re not in the current  CIP, you’re really not in the game,” explains Friesen. “And so when you look at how the process works, our development is at least another 8 years out. For us, doing what we do in the community, that’s another 8 years of missed opportunity. And for that, we’re disappointed for the community.”
 
Instead, an amendment was made for $59.8 million in “shadow funding” in 2022 for convention centre construction which the council of the day will have to approve. Another $16 million in “shadow funding” will have to be approved to build the phase 2 agriplex in 2026.
 
Friesen hints that this may not sit too well with members of the community at large because Exhibition Park, as an operator of the site has invested $5.1 million while the city has invested $4.6 million in the development plan, without a firm commitment from council that the project will actually go ahead.
 
“With the business support that we’ve had, and the user group support that we’ve had for the organization, I wouldn’t be surprised if the development at Exhibition Park became an election issue in the Fall.”
 
Friesen also admits that there has to be some discussion over the timing of the shovel- ready Trade and Convention centre documents, at their June 7 Board of Directors meeting, because there is no money for construction when those plans are completed.
 
“I’m looking forward to a very robust discussion about next steps for this organization, but we’re proud to serve this community and we’re gonna do it the best way that we can, given the situation.”
 
He says it’s the Park’s 120th anniversary this year, and they just have to figure out what the next 120 years will look like.