The exciting new CN Roundhouse & Conference Centre at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park is in the final stages of preparation for its grand opening, and its start as a new centre for community activities and events.
This is the largest single construction project ($8.3 million total) undertaken at our site since we started the development way back in the early 1990s. It will transform the Heritage Park and what it offers the community (and those who visit our community) in many ways.
As a new exhibit hall, the roundhouse will house seven of our most precious rail artifacts, providing them a wonderful new climate controlled environment. Here, our restored railcars and locomotives will be well protected, ensuring their longevity in telling the story of our railway heritage for years to come. The roundhouse will be open daily as part of the Heritage Park experience.
As a new community event site, the CN Roundhouse & Conference Centre will provide a great and unique venue, capable of large gatherings of many types. It will serve local community events and private functions, and will also bring many new groups to Squamish that have never come here before. It adds a community venue with a capacity that was previously not available in Squamish.
To say that it has been a long haul would be quite an understatement - it has been five years of tough fundraising and progressive construction by many local contractors and specialists from around the lower mainland area. There has not been a railway roundhouse and turntable complex built in Canada for more than 60 years!
But, while we are ready to open and start using the new facility, we are not done yet. There are still several details to be added and a couple of important pieces to be completed. Work to complete these will go on for the balance of 2010, based on our ability to raise the funds remaining needed to fund these items
The official opening ceremony and dedication is set for Wednesday, June 30 at 11:30 a.m. and everyone is invited. We hope to see you there.
