The Municipality is looking ahead to the future of recreation in Sioux Lookout, with the goal of creating spaces that bring the community together, support health and wellness, and offer new and exciting opportunities for everyone.
Residents have shared their ideas and enthusiasm for improved facilities and amenities, including the possibility of a community pool. Recent engagement and survey results show that satisfaction with current recreation facilities and programs is below provincial averages, highlighting the opportunity to enhance services.
This planning process is an important step toward a vibrant and sustainable recreation future that meets the needs of both today and tomorrow. Additional work will be needed to fully explore options, assess feasibility, and understand long-term financial and operational considerations.
Understanding the Current Facility
To support evidence-based planning, a Building Condition Assessment (BCA) was completed for the Sioux Lookout Recreation Centre. A BCA is a technical review that examines the building from top to bottom to assess the state of its major systems—such as heating, roofing, structure, and electrical—and identifies what repairs or replacements will be required over the next several years. Importantly, these updates address existing deficiencies but do not enhance the building’s overall functionality or add new features.
Key finding: Approximately $7.2 million will be needed over the next five years to update aging building components and keep the facility safe and reliable, with most work expected in 2030. This highlights the importance of planning ahead to ensure the community continues to have access to the Recreation Centre.
A Building Condition Assessment (BCA) has already reviewed the overall condition of major systems, like heating, electrical, and roofing, to identify what needs replacement or repair. Next year, a structural assessment will be completed to specifically examine the building’s foundation, walls, and structural components before these investments begin. This step will ensure we fully understand the building’s integrity and can plan upgrades safely and effectively.
What Happens Next
1. Retrofit & Feasibility Review
A retrofit analysis will now be completed. This analysis looks at what upgrades or improvements would be needed to bring the building up to modern safety, accessibility, and functional standards. It will also examine whether the current building can realistically accommodate these upgrades and whether investing in major improvements is the most cost-effective long-term option.
This review will determine:
- Additional investments required to meet safety, functionality, and accessibility needs
- Whether the current building design and condition can accommodate these upgrades
- The feasibility and cost-effectiveness of extending the life of the current facility
A retrofit enhancement could also require a significant period of downtime, during which access to the Recreation Centre may be interrupted. These potential impacts will need to be fully understood as part of the analysis. Retrofit costs would be in addition to the BCA-identified investments noted above.
2. Preparing for a Future Facility
At the same time, the Municipality will continue early planning for a future recreation facility. Preparing for a new facility can take up to ten years, and starting this work now helps prevent long-term interruptions to access if the current building reaches the end of its serviceable life. With Sioux Lookout’s population projected to reach around 8,000 by 2035, early planning ensures the community will have recreation spaces that meet both current and future needs.
This early planning will include:
- Exploring land options
- Engaging potential partners and funding programs
- Completing early pre-development steps to support future readiness
A link is included for residents to review the full timeline outlining the exploration of a potential new build, including work already completed to date. You can also visit our Sports Tourism Diversification Infrastructure Enhancement page to view the pool feasibility study.
A Key Decision Point in 2028
This dual-track approach includes a major decision point in 2028, when Council will have more detailed information from both streams—repairing and upgrading the existing facility and the early new-facility planning work. This will allow Council to make an informed decision about the best long-term approach for the community, based on cost, feasibility, community impact, and operational considerations.
This approach ensures we continue to meet community needs today while carefully and responsibly planning for the future of recreation in Sioux Lookout. As more information becomes available, residents can monitor updates through our Community Compass Dashboard, which will provide ongoing insights into planning progress, assessments, and decision-making milestones.
