Feasibility studies for Quebec’s outdoor refrigerated rinks, due to be submitted last April, are still pending, but the Marchand government promises answers in the fall.

• Also read: Quebec City: $537,000 in contracts to begin construction of Bleu Blanc Bouge Ice Rink in Victoria Park

• Also read: Ice rink contracts are slow in Quebec

• Also read: The City of Quebec plans to spend $6 million to expand the CH ice rink in Victoria Park

While she was expecting them for last April, the city of Quebec won’t receive the studies until next October that will guide her plan to deploy these new infrastructures, spokeswoman Karine Desbiens confirmed.

The contracts were awarded between February and April to three firms: Larochelle et Desmeules Architectes, EMS Structure and CBTEC, dealing with the architectural aspects of building construction and mechanical engineering respectively. The totals for these analyzes are $130,438.

calendar maintained

This “does not affect the goals or timeline for the construction of the covered outdoor ice rink,” states Ms. Desbiens.

“Completing the studies will require technical expertise at the various sites and we are awaiting the results. They are intended, among other things, to identify possible locations.

Councilor Jean-François Gosselin, in charge of sport, says the city will announce two selected venues in the fall and will indicate the costs that will be included in the municipality’s next budget.

He says he expects amounts “between $5 million and $7 million” per rink.

These costs also include the associated facilities such as the roof or the service pavilion. “Before the December budget we will determine the two priorities depending on the recommendations that are made. »

Examined sites

Several sites are currently under investigation: Duberger Park, Bon-Pasteur Park, Saint-Viateur Park, Saint-Pierre Park, Jean-Guyon Park, Jules-Émond Park and a site near the Étienne Parent Library.

The city explains: “The bidding period has taken longer than expected as bidders have submitted multiple questions, which has delayed the opening date. Therefore, the advisors began their mandate in April 2023.”

The Bruno Marchand administration wants to provide Quebec City with a chilled outdoor ice rink that will be covered by the city government.

The first infrastructure of its kind in the capital will see the light of day in 2024 thanks to a $2 million donation from the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation, which has chosen Quebec to install a Bleu Blanc Bouge ice rink.

It will be built in Victoria Park, in the La Cité-Limoilou district. The foundation bears the costs for space, tapes and equipment, the city bears the costs for the roof and a pavilion
in service.