On Monday, February 26, 2024, the municipal council awarded a contract for professional services worth $2,207,737.14 to CBTEC Inc.
CBTEC is an engineering firm that “offers complete services in building mechanics and electricity, from technical expertise and studies to construction monitoring and commissioning” [1]. The mandate granted consists of preparing plans and specifications related to the renovation and upgrading of the Recreation Center in the years to come. CBTEC will also be called upon to act as project manager and will monitor the work to be carried out.
If the professional services contract is worth $2.2M, you are probably wondering “but what is the scope of the work to be carried out”? It’s a good question!
The technical specifications published, and available to the public, on the electronic call for tenders system of the Government of Quebec[2] provide the following:
“The City, with its internal professionals and Council members, identified a total project cost of $29,000,000.00, including taxes and spread over 5 years of completion. Indeed, the city of Beaconsfield wishes, after the design of the entire building (swimming pool, arena, common room, offices, etc.), to plan its completion in the form of annual phases. To do this, the design project must plan to be split into 5 construction packages. This component will be discussed and coordinated during the period of completion of the design mandate with City representatives. The estimate submitted at the end of the design mandate must take into account market growth over 5 years.“[3]
As mentioned by the Director General during the last council meeting, the city presented a grant request to the Government of Quebec, as part of the Programme d’aide financière aux infrastructures récréatives et sportives[4]. The grant requested by the City of Beaconsfield is $20,000,000 and, unless I am mistaken, it represents the maximum amount that can be requested.
We do not know, at this time, whether this grant application will be accepted in whole or in part. But it is clear that we all want to be able to obtain the most generous grant possible.
These are therefore major investments, which, moreover, come in addition to the major renovation work on the arena (concrete slab, refrigeration system, new belts, etc.) which must begin in the coming months. This latest work will likely be also be in the order of several million dollars.
Our Recreation Center will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. It has provided proud service to the last generations of our city, it was our responsibility to ensure that appropriate investments were made to ensure continuity – or even improvement – of services for generations to come.
The next few years will therefore bring their share of troubles and hassles which are characteristic of major projects. However, we are fortunate to be able to count on a competent and dedicated team at the Rec Centre who will do everything in their power to ensure that as many services as possible are maintained, or maintained for as long as possible during this period.
[1] My translation taken from : À propos – CBTEC
[2] SEAO : Résultats de recherche
[3] In French in the technical specifications. My translation.
[4] Programme d’aide financière aux infrastructures récréatives et sportives (PAFIRS – EBI) | Ministère de l’Éducation (gouv.qc.ca)