Edson & District Leisure Centre Renovation and Expansion

The Town of Edson and Yellowhead County are excited to announce the start of Phase 2 of the YCE Multiplex Project!

Phase 1, which included the land clearing, grading, and foundation preparation is wrapping up, and Phase 2 is underway! This new phase will see the construction of a new ice arena, gymnasium, and new aquatics space.

With the start of Phase 2 comes a few changes for the facility and our users. The main entrance and Guest Services desk has been moved to the current pool space to accommodate the new construction. The main parking will also be shifted to our temporary lot on the northwest side of the facility.

There may be some minor disruptions during the transition. We appreciate your patience while we make the adjustments to keep this important project moving forward.

For the most up-to-date information, please visit the YCE Multiplex website at ycemultiplex.ca.

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  YCE - Phase 2 Layout

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  New Temp Entrance

A new budget has been approved for the joint recreational multiplex project.

While work is already underway on the YCE Multiplex project, Town of Edson and Yellowhead County Councils have both approved a revised budget for the facility.

Both Councils have approved an increase in the budget to $86.77 million, an increase of approximately $6.5 million from the previously approved budget.

With the latest round of tenders coming in higher than anticipated, the Town of Edson and Yellowhead County were faced with a decision of increasing the budget, or cutting substantial portions of the project, including the gymnasium space and walking track. After discussion with the Steering Committee, both Councils approved the funding increase, noting the importance of these new spaces for the community.

“Prices continue to climb across our economy, and we’re seeing it first-hand with this project.  Approving an increase to the project’s cost is a tough decision, but we had to weigh these cost increases against not including these important features in the multiplex or increased costs to add them later. We felt this was the best option for our residents.” 
-Mayor Wade Williams, Yellowhead County

Several factors contributed to the increased project cost:

• Escalating market conditions (commodity pricing, exchange rates, and labour shortages)
• Design development, particularly for the gymnasium component
• A required $600,000 firewall to meet exiting and fire suppression requirements
• Trade tariff uncertainty

“Ensuring that we have a facility that delivers on the amenities we initially approved has been a priority for Town Council.   We have made adjustments over the last number of months to reduce costs where possible while maintaining the integrity of the project, however a budget increase is required.  The Town has been proactive in setting funds aside over the last number of years to ensure that if this scenario occurred, we would have funding available to manage the cost.”
-Mayor Kevin Zahara, Town of Edson

The funding breakdown will now be $20 million from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) and $33.39 million each from the Town of Edson and Yellowhead County. Parts of the municipal funding is expected to be offset by the Provincial Local Government Fiscal Framework grant (LGFF), making this a true partnership between all three levels of government. 

This modern, regional facility is expected to open in 2027 and will provide expanded recreational space and enhance the quality of life for Town and County residents. It is also expected to become a central hub for community gatherings, sports activities, cultural events, and more.

More information is available by visiting www.ycemultiplex.ca.

Construction has begun with on-site preparation and foundational work for the new recreational space on the current site of the Edson & District Leisure Centre.

While site preparation started in last month, May 21 marks the official groundbreaking of the highly anticipated YCE Multiplex Project, a joint venture between the Town of Edson and Yellowhead County.

A special groundbreaking ceremony was held at the project site, attended by residents, the construction team, and representatives from the Provincial Government, Town of Edson, and Yellowhead County.

“Edson Town Council is very excited to see the progress being made on the site,” said Edson Mayor Kevin Zahara. “This has been a long time coming and we’re very happy to see it starting to take shape. This investment in our facility means more recreational opportunities for residents and will go a long way in helping to attract people to our region. We thank Yellowhead County for being at the table as an equal partner in this regional facility.”

Phase 1 of construction is expected to continue until July 2025 and includes clearing and grading the site, commencing the Aquatics and Lobby foundation, as well as setting up temporary access and parking.

Phase 2 will see the remainder of Aquatics construction, including lane and leisure swimming, as well as a new arena and gymnasium, which features an elevated walking track, scheduled for completion in 2027.

The remaining phase will include demolition of the existing pool and completion of the new, renovations to Centennial Arena, and conversion of Memorial into a curling facility.

The full project is expected to be completed near the end of 2027.

“This groundbreaking is an important milestone in the completion of the new YCE Multiplex,” said Yellowhead County Mayor Wade Williams. “We’re very proud of our work together with the Town of Edson in the development of this facility. The facility’s new amenities and upgrades will benefit our region’s residents and highlights our commitment to working with our regional partners towards our community’s continued growth and development”

Now that construction is underway, users should be mindful of parking changes and building access. A new temporary access is under construction through the pool area to accommodate work on the new ice arena, which will be located on the west side of the facility.

This modern, regional facility will provide expanded recreational space and enhance the quality of life for Town and County residents. It is also expected to become a central hub for community gatherings, sports activities, cultural events, and more.

The Town of Edson and Yellowhead County are excited to announce the start of construction on the YCE Multiplex Project!

Phase 1 is set to commence on April 7, 2025, with on-site preparation and foundational work. This includes clearing the area, grading the land, and preparing the foundation.

Construction hours are scheduled for Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Residents should expect on-site activity during these hours and a potential slight increase in traffic while work is underway.

The main entrance will remain open during Phase 1, but the north parking lot will be closed.

For the most up-to-date information, please visit the YCE Multiplex website at ycemultiplex.ca.

A formal groundbreaking ceremony will be scheduled later this spring.

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  Phase 1 - Now to summer 2025

In the summer of 2024, the Town of Edson conducted public engagement with information sessions and a parking survey for the YCE Multiplex project. The feedback received was invaluable and taken into consideration as the final parking plan was developed. The final parking layout takes into account important factors such as preserving park/treed space, pedestrian safety, residential parking impacts, construction cost, and proper traffic flows.

• As outlined in the attached graphic, the new parking layout would include 310 total parking spaces (currently the EDLC has approximately 165 stalls).
• The main parking would be on the northwest corner of the facility with additional parking lots to the north (pool/gym areas) and south (arenas).
• 48^th Street would be changed to one-way traffic (southbound) and additional angle parking would be made available on the east side of the street.

A new main parking lot will be constructed on the north-west corner and along the north side. The natural flow from the main parking lot would move around to the east side of the facility into the new parking spaces. Access to the new lobby would be on both from the west (main entrance) and east side (secondary entrance) of the facility. The south parking spaces will remain with some adjustments on the south-west corner of the existing parking lot with access near the south-west end (secondary entrance) of the facility. This parking design will convert 48^th Street into a one-way south bound between 10^th -12^th Avenue.

Grande Yellowhead Public School Division coordinates bussing for both School Divisions, and the Transportation Department is aware of these changes and planning accordingly. No physical changes are expected until after the current school year concludes. The construction schedule for implementing these parking and roadway changes is still under consideration, and once confirmed, a more detailed implementation plan and timeline will be announced.

We would like to thank everyone that participated in the parking engagement. It was through this process that generated new ideas taken into consideration in the final design. While we understand it may not hit the mark with everyone, we believe it strikes the right balance for the priorities identified during the engagement process and the needs of the new facility. See the results of the engagement in the “What We Heard Report” at www.edson.ca/engage.

More information will be provided as the project construction continues, watch for updates on ycemultiplex.ca. In the meantime, questions on this parking plan can be directed to Doug Wagstaff, General Manager Community & Protective Services, Town of Edson dougw@edson.ca.

YCE Multiplex Tender Award – Pre-Engineered Arena

The Town of Edson and Yellowhead County are taking the next step in getting closer to the construction of the YCE Multiplex project with the awarding of a pre-engineered arena.

The detailed design phase was finalized in November 2024, which provided a comprehensive blueprint of the facility’s layout, materials, and systems. This has allowed for more accurate cost estimation and project planning, allowing the two municipalities to move ahead on the next major tender awards.

To deliver the YCE Multiplex within the $80.24 million budget, a pre-engineered arena package is being pursued to maintain cost efficiency without compromising the facility’s quality, functionality, or longevity.

A pre-engineered arena is a structure that is designed and fabricated in a factory setting, and then transported to the site for assembly. These arenas typically feature steel frames and standardized components, allowing for faster construction, cost savings, and flexibility in design. The use of pre-engineered components ensures a high level of quality control.

The proposals for a pre-engineered arena were competitively evaluated based on cost, design compatibility, and market risk factors such as price fluctuations and currency exchange rates.

The pre-engineered arena tender is being awarded to Behlen Industries for $1,331,654 million. This covers the pre-engineered structure, roof insulation, insulated metal panels, and freight costs, with an additional allowance of $312,000 for design modifications to ensure the system aligns with the current design intent for the space, including potential adjustments to the mezzanine.

Awarding this contract is a critical step to keep within the project schedule and budget. This commitment to a pre-engineered building supplier is needed to complete the coordination of the structure and foundation design for the project.

The next tender award is for the pool mechanical, mechanical general, and electrical general components totalling $18.6 million. These items have been combined into a single project package, with the tender awarding process set to begin at the end of January, and continue over the next several months.

These tenders, totalling $19.9 million, align with the overall project budget of $80.24 million.

For inquires regarding contractors interested in being considered for opportunities can submit their company name, contact information, and relevant qualifications to YCEMultiplex@clarkbuilders.com.