Politicians see challenges faced by Keystone

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This article was published 31/03/2011 (5383 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A busload of provincial politicians pulled up to the Keystone Centre for the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair on Wednesday, and Dan Robertson couldn’t have been happier to see them.

It gave the outgoing Keystone Centre general manager a chance to show them buildings requiring roof replacement and other places where upgrades are needed. Ceilings in the City Square Arena and Exhibition Hall are leaking, while the Amphitheatre can’t be used at all during winter months because of concerns about the roof.

"We’ve sat down with some representatives with the Department of Agriculture and talked about issues," Robertson said.

"We were able to meet with the city, province and Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba to reiterate the challenges we face here and ask them to send more money our way so we can deal with those issues."

Robertson said cooler temperatures have prevented serious roof leakage during the fair, but if temperatures rise, the abnormally high snow accumulations on the roof will show fairgoers exactly how serious the issue is. Staff will have to lay out buckets to catch every drop.

"When that snow starts to melt, there’s going to be a tremendous amount of water on our roofs," Robertson said.

"We have some older buildings at this complex, where they have simply out-lived their useful life. It’s now time to replace things and we don’t have the money for that."

Brandon East New Democratic Party MLA Drew Caldwell said the Keystone Centre hasn’t been ignored.

"There has never been a let-up in the capital and operational support at the Keystone Centre," Caldwell said.

"In every budget year since 1999, there’s been significant dollars allocated to improving the centre or going towards repairs. There have been other expansions, such as the luxury boxes at Westman Place for the Memorial Cup. The Keystone Centre is never off our radar."

Caldwell added the Keystone Centre board and leadership group has received a five-year plan outlining necessary building upgrades and replacements that cost close to $10 million. To deal with the most immediate concerns of leaking roofs, $1 million is needed.

"That plan is being analyzed right now in terms of what the highest priorities are and how we can schedule out the work over a number of years," Caldwell said.

While no contracts have yet been signed, the Arabian Horse Association’s Royal Red horse show is negotiating with the Keystone Centre to bring 3,000 competitors to the Wheat City in August.

As Robertson anticipated a one-year contract would be signed with the AHA, temporary stables and tents will be used to house the numerous horses and necessary show infrastructure. However, a more permanent hosting arrangement would force the Keystone Centre to add another 100,000-square-foot building at an anticipated cost of $5 million.

"This is a bigger horse show than the Keystone Centre is used to handling," Robertson said, comparing its economic impact to hosting a Memorial Cup every year.

"We will need to add buildings if we are to be a permanent host because there aren’t enough stalls and stable areas as it stands now. We would also need more equipment."

If that addition is built, Robertson would like to see it constructed as multi-use space so there is a larger capacity for larger trade shows.

"Manitoba Ag Days needs more space as well, so this kind of addition could help attract more than larger equestrian shows," Robertson said.

Caldwell said the Royal Red show was "an awesome event to attract."

"This is an international-calibre event," Caldwell said. "If we have a chance to get that here, believe me, I’ll do everything I can do to make sure that happens."