Civic Centre Opening Set Despite Criticism And Delays
OAKVILLE - Hon. Earl Rowe, Ontario's lieutenant-governor, will be in Oakville Saturday to open the towns million dollar centennial project, the civic centre.
Built on the old Central School common on Navy Street, the project includes a new central library building, a three-storey structure including a Centennial Gallery, and a connected Centennial Swimming Pool building.
The library building and exhibition wing cost $712,500 and the pool $471,000. Senior levels of government paid two-thirds of the cost.
THIRD BUILDING
Included in the original concept was a third building to house a civic auditorium and restaurant. It would be built at the north end of the complex. The project has been plagued by dissention, criticism and delays since its inception. A large, vocal faction of citizens argued the money could better be spent on several recreation centres for youth.
Latest setback was a province wide lockout of construction workers this summer, followed by a brief period in which members of the International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers refused to work.
POOL STOPPED
The delay forced a construction halt on the pool to allow completion of the centennial wing in time for the many activities scheduled for September.
Councillor William Cudmore, a council representative on the Recreation Committee, told a group of Ward 2 ratepayers Tuesday he expects the pool to be completed by February.
