John French - [email protected]
A massive 20,000-square-foot conference centre will be built at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park by the end of next year thanks to an extremely generous member of the West Coast Railway Association (WCRA) and the provincial government.
The unnamed Vancouver resident gave $2 million to the WCRA toward construction of the proposed roundhouse and conference centre at the heritage park, while MLA Ted Nebbeling announced the provincial donation on Friday (March 16) in front of more than 100 people in bright late winter sunshine at the heritage park. The $2 million from the province is coming out of the Community Development Infrastructure initiative.
Don Evans, the WCRA's executive director, said the donor insisted on anonymity.
The massive donation led to the provincial government matching the private donation, said Evans.
The Heritage Park's plan is to use the new roundhouse as a permanent home for the Royal Hudson and for six other prized possessions in the WCRA collection.
The 1,800 square metres (20,000 square foot) roundhouse building design allows the structure to act as a conference centre for as many as 2,000 people.
CN donated a turntable to the WCRA and the turntable is going to be used in the glass roundhouse. When a conference is booked, the railway pieces will be moved out of the building, the trackways will be paneled in, tables and chairs will be brought in and the space will be converted for use as a conference centre.
The climate-controlled building is going to be built in the southeast corner of the park.
When you arrive along Government Road you will see a glass roundhouse with seven locomotives looking out at you," Evans said."This addition to the West Coast Railway Heritage Park is estimated to attract 25,000 new visitors," said Nebbeling.
In 2004, 45,500 people visited the park.
According to Craig McDowall, chair of the WCRA, the park is the second-largest operating railroad museum in Canada on the way to being number one.
The WCRA estimates the project will generate more than $10 million in economic impact during construction.
"This is a red-letter day for the District of Squamish," said acting mayor Sonja Lebans. "The railroad has played a significant role in the history of Squamish."
Work on the structure is scheduled to begin right away. Evans said a sod turning ceremony is expected in May or June with construction starting in September and an estimated completion in December of 2006.
In December, Evans said the conference centre was expected to open by 2008.
"This great new facility at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park will add an exciting new community venue for Squamish, as well as greatly enhance our railway preservation and exhibit facilities," said Evans.
"This project will help Squamish showcase its distinctive history and attract tourists to our region," Nebbeling said. "This is especially important during the lead up to the 2010 Olympic Games."
