At the direction of City Council in April 2021, the City of Spruce Grove has been working on a preliminary design of the proposed Civic Centre. The preliminary design will help identify the project’s final size, cost estimates, amenities, and location. This will provide Council with a detailed concept for the project that will inform the decision on moving forward with development.

To help guide this preliminary work, the City has selected GEC Architecture as the lead architect for the project. GEC possesses a wealth of experience with similar facilities across the province, such as Red Deer’s Servus Arena, the Bonnie Doon Leisure Centre Redevelopment in Edmonton, and the Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge and WinSport’s Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary.

In coordination with the architectural work, the City has been working closely with many stakeholder groups to design a space that will maximize benefits for all stakeholder groups and the community members who will enjoy it. Discussions have been held with the Spruce Grove Saints, Spruce Grove Public Library, the Allied Arts Council, minor sports associations, and many others to identify needs in our community and the broader tri-municipal area, including sports, recreation, arts, and culture.

Based on these collaborative conversations, this investment in our region will bring a number of amenities together in one facility, including two ice rinks, a walking track, an art gallery, a black box theatre, and a branch of the Spruce Grove Public Library.

The location of the proposed Civic Centre is yet to be determined, and negotiations surrounding land acquisition are ongoing. Once the preliminary work has been completed, Spruce Grove City Council will make the final decision on the Civic Centre later this year.