Fredericton City Council Approves Plan For Officer’s Square
FREDERICTON — The new Officer’s Square, which includes an artificial skating rink, stage, and playground, plans to be set up for skating in 2023, which is good news for downtown businesses and event organizers, says the head of Downtown Fredericton.
Fredericton city council approved a design plan for Officer’s Square at Monday night’s meeting.
Bruce McCormack, the executive director of Downtown Fredericton, says the conclusion of a long and at times controversial process is good news. He says it’s been difficult on downtown businesses and for festivals and events that use Officer’s Square as a venue.
“We’re anxiously awaiting for it to be completed,” said McCormack.
The project, first proposed in 2016, has changed shape in the last five years.
The 2018 plan was rejected mainly over the protection of trees, and lack of heritage permits or proper consultation with Indigenous communities. After an archeological dig, which is still ongoing, they came back to council with a new design.
“We’ve done a pretty exhaustive approach on the archaeology, we’re done over 100 test pits in the area, plus developed two EIAs, and have a fairly good sense of [what’s] underground there,” said Sean Lee, head of engineering and operations for the project, in a presentation to council on November 9.
From the dig, a paleo shoreline was identified in the southwest corner of the lot. This spot is left open on the new plan, to be designed with the advice of Indigenous communities in the area. Calvin Thompson, First Nation relations for the city, has been working with St. Mary’s First Nation and the Wolastogey Nation on the new plan.
Besides a smaller rink to accommodate the shoreline, other changes included preserving mature trees in the area and changing to a brine system for the skating rink. Lee said they are also furthering a horticultural plan.
The cost for the project is $10.4-million, which rose from $8.9-million in 2016. There will also be a $270,000 annual cost for operations.
Councillor Cassandra Blackmore raised concerns about the cost. She said she understands that the artificial skating rink will be an asset to the city, but questioned if it was worth the yearly cost.
“This is a lot of public funds we’re looking to spend,” said Blackmore. “I hope there is a political will to invest these kinds of capital dollars in areas of the city that are in desperate need of attention like transit and affordable housing.”
Blackmore said residents she talked to raised concerns about inadequate consultation with Indigenous communities, mature tree removal, lack of heritage protection, and less green space downtown.
Councillor Margo Shepard voiced concerns over the environmental costs the artificial skating rink will bring. She said it does not comply with Fredericton’s goal to cut down emissions by 80 percent by 2050.
“Will having a skating rink, powered by electricity and fossil fuels, increase or decrease our emissions as we seek to overcome a shortened and wildly variable winter ski season for skating?” asked Shepard.
Before the motion was passed, councillors raised a motion to defer the vote until November 22, citing not enough time to hear from constituents. Councillor Blackmore said private citizens didn’t have a chance to speak before council because this was added to the agenda at 4:30 Friday and citizens have to apply to speak by 4:30 Wednesday.
“We’ve given the residents of Fredericton only a few days notice on a very significant agenda item,” said Blackmore. “Residents have had no basically no time to read over this presentation or contact their councillors to express their views.”
Councillor Bruce Grandy said that in 2018 city council held an open forum at the Delta for the community to give them feedback.
“We’ve taken these comments and a lot of comments over time, and applied them to the design that we have,” said Grandy. “You know, at some point, you have to move forward.”
Councillor Steve Hicks said that people have had the time to give input over the last four to five years.
“This is something that we all believed in our community, at this point needs so much more than ever before,” said Hicks. “We’ve got to get this done as people begin to congregate back together.”
Councillor Henri Mallet said he is excited to go to the skating rink and to the Garrison night market on a Thursday night post-Covid.
“It’s a great project,” said “I’m looking forward to being able to enjoy it with my kids, with my grandkids in the future and to have a place where we can bring the community together.”
Construction will begin next summer.
Rachel Smith is an intern with Huddle. Send her story suggestions: [email protected].