Stayner Granite Club plans for AODA upgrades

Clearview council has thrown its support behind the Stayner Granite Club’s desire to upgrade the curling rink in order to make it fully accessible but has made no financial commitment at this time.
The updates are needed to bring the facility into compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
The curling club has formed a construction committee to oversee the proposed renovations including club president Chuck Christie, Judy Hutton and Maxine Coutts-Reid.
Clearview’s Parks, Culture and Recreation department general manager Terry Vachon said he received three concept plans from R.J. Burnside and Associates.
The renovation options, all with lift, include a 520 square foot two-storey addition and lift at $385,000; a 270 square foot addition and lift at $456,000 or the preferred option of a 729 square foot addition at $720,000.
Councillor Robert Walker said Option 3 is very appealing because it looks like a complete design, rather than having a piece stuck on.
Council has directed Parks, Culture and Recreation Staff to work with the Stayner Granite Club as it pursues funding opportunities, such as grants, and fundraising initiatives to upgrade the Stayner Granite Club.
Once funding and grant opportunities have been explored and a fundraising initiative has been established, the department will return to council with an update and final approval.
Deputy Mayor Barry Burton asked about other accessibility projects in the municipality, specifically an accessibility renovation for Avening Hall that went all the way through the design phase, saying the township should come up with a plan for how to roll-out accessibility renovation projects.
In 2016, council baulked at the tender price of more than $700,000 and put the project on hold, with the blessing of the hall board.
In 2015, Avening Hall received a $110,000 grant from the federal government’s Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, which would have covered almost half of the original 2012 cost estimate of $235,000 but would barely put a dent in the actual overall cost.