Welcome to the East Lambton Community Complex webpage!
We are thrilled to launch the ELCC Campaign webpage! We are your ELCC fundraising campaign team and we are excited to be kick-starting this initiative!
The Warwick Township residents has been waiting for a new facility for more than 10 years. This brand new community complex will serve the sports, fitness and programming needs for individuals and families both locally and beyond. The positive feedback we have seen thus far is a testament of the pride for our community and enthusiasm continues to grow as project construction takes shape.
Feel free to navigate the page for information about the facility, updates on the fundraising campaign, where and how to donate, and construction progress (scheduled to be complete this fall). You will also find links to the latest news appearances, announcements for fundraising and special events as well as donor recognition announcements.
We invite you to keep up-to-date on the campaign by following our Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/ELCCcampaign. We look forward to celebrating the opening with all of you this fall!
ABOVE: ELCC Fundraising Committee pictured in front from the left: Rick Bebingh, Mark Hamel, George Noll, Mike Acton and Todd White. In the back from the left: Steve Minten, Jackie Rombouts, Brad Rombouts, Rhonda Noll and Brad Goodhill.
BELOW: Distance area map for potential users.
Warwick Township Council approves construction of new community hall
In 1967 numerous projects were carried out by communities to mark Canada's 100th birthday. The village of Watford held various functions to celebrate the occasion and a major project for the Watford community was the construction of the Watford Centennial Hall.
To fund the project grants were received from both federal and provincial governments. In addition, the community fundraising committee raised $35,000 and between $20,000 and $25,000 worth of free labour and discounts donated by work groups.
After more than 50 years of hosting community dances, gatherings, special events and the like, a 2020 inspection confirmed what Warwick Township Council knew- the Centennial Hall had reached its lifespan and the cost to bring the building up to code was significant.
In 2020, Warwick Township Council voted in favour to expand and renew the Watford Community Arena and approved an $11.5 million renewal of the arena and a new, multi-purpose facility that would include a gymnasium/community hall, meeting rooms and a YMCA fitness partnership. Construction commenced in the spring of 2021 and is scheduled to be completed by Fall 2022.
Soon residents of Warwick Township and surrounding areas will have access to a new, state-of-the-art facility that will offer a myriad of programs and services as well as serve as the sports hub and community gathering place for this and future generations.
Financing for the ELCC:
The entire project for the arena renovations and hall construction was budgeted at $11.5M for which the Township of Warwick secured a construction loan through Infrastructure Ontario (IO) for $11,000,000 at a rate of 0.60%. Once construction ends, Council will direct staff to enter into a long-term loan with IO for a yet-to-be-determined amount to cover the costs of the project. The interest rate for the long-term loan will depend of two factors:
- 1. Term; and
- 2. Loan type (serial or amortizer).
These rates tend to be lower than by borrowing through other financial institutions.
When staff calculate the recommends the amount to borrow long-term to Council we will consider total construction costs, grants received (~$950,000 to date), fund raising (target of $2,000,000), unencumbered Reserves and future cash flow requirements before recommending an amount and borrowing term to Council.
As per the evening this project was announced, we do not believe that the construction costs for the new hall and corresponding renovations to the arena will trigger any tax increase for the resident of the Township.
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