The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Oakville Arena budget approved by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Friday, September 30, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville Town council approved the budget and redevelopment plans for Oakville Arena and Trafalgar Park Sept. 19. The now-approved plan includes an outdoor rink, an accessible playground with shade structure, a fitness centre and a room in the new fire station dedicated to fire safety education and heritage. Council approved approximately $2.8 million in additional funding last week, bringing the project's total budget to more than $41 million. "Providing the facilities to help residents lead more healthy, engaged and active lives is a key part of our livable Oakville vision," stated Oakville Mayor Rob Burton in a press release following the meeting. "I'm proud to say the new Oakville Arena and Trafalgar Park will do all that and more. With the help of public input from Oakville residents, we have developed plans for a truly dynamic community space." The project will expand the existing Oakville Arena to a 65,500-square-foot community centre while retaining the arena's wooden roof trusses, recognized as a heritage feature. The community centre will include an NHLsize ice pad, a seniors' centre, public meeting space, fitness centre, full-size gymnasium and an indoor running track. Trafalgar Park will feature a fully-accessible playground with a shade structure, a double tennis court that will be converted into an artificial outdoor rink in the winter, and exterior washroom facilities. The Fire Education and Heritage room included in the new fire hall on the corner of Kerr and Rebecca streets will offer interactive displays, public education materials, and historical artifacts along with a 1948 vintage pumper truck on display. Of the additional $2.8 million approved by council, $994,000 will address a number of factors identified during the first phase of the project, known as validation. Town staff said since the original project budget of $38.1 million was established in 2014, the Town's standards in energy management, storm water management and accessibility have changed. They noted those changes, along with current market conditions, the low Canadian dollar and expenses related to site remediation contributed to the budget increase. "The validation phase of this project has been critical because it's given us a deeper understanding of potential issues and how to address them in the most cost-effective way possible," said Nicole Wolfe, manager of capital projects in the Facilities and Construction department. see Fire on p.13 The newly refurbished Oakville Arena is expected to open to the public in September 2018. | Metroland file photo A STEP BEYOND IN CARE Salima Kassam Reg. Chiropodist · Foot/Arch Pain? · Ingrown Toenails? · Diabetes? · Swollen Ankles? · Corns, Calluses? Do you have: Call for an appointment 905-632-1414 728 Burloak Drive www.footandhealthclinic.com N o m i n at i o n s d u e O c t. 2 1 Visit ymcaofoakville.org for more details YMCA Peace M e d a l N o m i n at i o n s Do you know someone with a passion for helping others Thinking of Retiring... Someday? Let's Talk. Visit our website to sign up for a free consultation. Peter Watson MBA, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, FCSI Jennifer Watson B.A. 220 Randall Street, Downtown Oakville 905-842-2100 peterwatsoninvestments.com Recipients will receive $500 for their charitable work, along with a YMCA Peace Medal at the YMCA Community Breakfast for Peace on November 23, 2016. Nominate a youth, adult or group today! ymcaofoakville.org | 905-845-3417