Jul 18 2013
ATCO Sustainable Communities and the Halalt First Nation announced today the grand opening of a new multi-purpose recreation centre, custom-designed for the Aboriginal community at Chemainus, B.C. on Vancouver Island.
The 6,500 sq. ft. recreation centre was designed and constructed by ATCO Sustainable Communities. ATCO utilized local labour supplied by the Halalt Band to help complete the project and will provide post-construction facilities management training.
The facility features a hardwood floor and change rooms and will be used to host basketball, volleyball, badminton and indoor soccer once it opens. Programs will be open to not only Halalt First Nation members, but the surrounding community as well.
"The Halalt Recreation Centre is an excellent example of the multi-purpose facilities we are providing for Aboriginal communities across Canada," said Boris Rassin, President, ATCO Sustainable Communities. "Every project has its unique challenges. In this case, our design team was challenged by the project being located in a 200-year flood plain. To overcome this obstacle we elevated the building four feet above ground."
"This facility is a cost-effective way for the Halalt people to support a healthy lifestyle in our community as well as provide a gathering place for members and special events," said Halalt Chief James R. Thomas, who led the groundbreaking ceremony. "It will be a point of pride for my people for years to come."
ATCO Sustainable Communities combines ATCO's modern construction technologies with its long history of forming successful Aboriginal partnerships to build facilities that reflect a community's cultural values while offering shorter timelines and reduced costs. By offering a turnkey solution, the company can economically design and build any facility a community may need, ranging from offices, schools and daycare centres to residential housing, hockey arenas and gas stations.
ATCO Sustainable Communities is part of the ATCO Group of Companies. ATCO Group, with more than 9,400 employees and assets of approximately $14 billion, delivers service excellence and innovative business solutions worldwide with leading companies engaged in Structures & Logistics (manufacturing, logistics and noise abatement), Utilities (pipelines, natural gas and electricity transmission and distribution), Energy (power generation, natural gas gathering, processing, storage and liquids extraction) and Technologies (business systems solutions). More information can be found at www.atco.com.