Call for submissions – Arenas and halls

Council voted unanimously to offer arenas and halls to community groups or other organizations during 2020 budget deliberations, with the goal of soliciting creative options that would address the long-term financial sustainability of these facilities while reducing the burden on local taxpayers. 

The County will issue a call for submissions at the end of June that would allow these groups to propose creative options that would address the long-term financial sustainability of these facilities.

Learn more about the decisions made during 2020 budget deliberations here.  

None of Norfolk County’s arenas or halls are slated for closing at the current time. During 2020 budget deliberations, Council voted unanimously to first offer these facilities to community groups and organizations. That process will happen at the end of June, when Norfolk issues a call for submissions that will allow these groups to propose creative options that would address the long-term financial sustainability of these facilities. 

Arenas

Delhi Community Centre Arena, 144 Western Avenue, Delhi

Langton Arena, 30 Albert Street, Langton

Port Dover Arena, 809 St. George Street, Port Dover

Talbot Gardens, 10 Talbot Street North, Simcoe

Waterford Tricenturena, 32 Church Street East, Waterford

Community Halls

Courtland Lions Community Centre, 272 Main Street, Courtland

Courtland Scout Hall and Storage, 276 Main Street, Courtland

Langton Community Centre, 28 Albert Street, Langton

Port Dover Lions Community Centre, 803 St. George Street, Port Dover

Port Rowan Community Centre, 14 College Avenue, Port Rowan

St. Williams Community Centre, 80 Queen Street West, St. Williams

Vittoria & District Community Centre, 17 Oakes Blvd, Vittoria

Vittoria Town Hall, 1538 Brock Street, Vittoria

Waterford & District Lions Community Centre, 53 West Church Street, Waterford

The following facilities have been excluded from the call for submissions for reasons noted below.

Simcoe Recreation Centre Arena

As part of the 2020 budget deliberations Council has directed that the Simcoe Seniors Centre be moved to the Simcoe Recreation Centre.

Charlotteville Community Centre (Walsh Hall), 1262 Turkey Point Rd, Walsh

A future report will be presented to Council on this facility.

Port Dover Kinsmen / Scout Hut, 95 Hamilton Plan Road, Port Dover

At the May 21, 2019 Council-in-Committee meeting, Council authorized staff to enter into an agreement with the Port Dover Seniors for the use of the facility as the new Port Dover Seniors Centre.

South Walsingham Hall, 2070 Main Street, Walsingham

A future report will be presented to Council on this facility.

Delhi Friendship Centre, 418 Queen Street, Delhi

This facility will continue to be the home of the Delhi Township Senior Citizens Club.

Yes, the call for submissions process is open to anyone with a creative plan to either operate or support any of the arenas or halls covered in the call for submissions. 

The Scope of Services outlined in the CFS identifies some options that may be considered by proponents including:

Option 1 – License of Facility “Operator” Scenario

Option 1 is for a fixed term licence for a period of five (5) years, with an option to extend for a further term up to five (5) years as the licensee and operator (“Operator”) of any of Norfolk County’s Arena’s and/or Community Halls for a fixed license fee of $1.00 per year.

This option would have the proponent oversee all of the required operations and operate the facility in a manner which serves to benefit the community and in accordance with its current designated use.

• An operating subsidy of up to $150,000 per year will be considered for an operator of an arena. No operating subsidy will be provided to an operator of a hall.
• Capital funding support at a ratio of 50% may be made available to operators through application to Council on an annual basis. The County will maintain a capital reserve fund for these assets.
• Transitional operational support will be provided by Norfolk County. Over the full five year term, an allotment of up to 100 hours will be provided to hall operators and up to 400 hours for arena operators.
• An arena operator can engage Norfolk County to provide daily operational support which will include maintaining the ice rink as well as major mechanical equipment on a fixed fee for service arrangement. The intent of this support is to provide operators with the technical day to day operational knowledge while allowing the operator to focus on increasing utilization and revenue in the arena while developing its own operational support team.
• The County will reserve the right to inspect the property and the operations of the facilities to ensure that the properties are being maintained in a reasonable manner during the course of the agreement.

Option 2 – Community Partnership Arrangement

Option 2 is seeking a Community Partner (“Partner”) to put forth a plan to increase revenue through sponsorships or other arrangements for the explicit use by the designated arena or community hall. In addition to fundraising, the Partner can develop new demand activities or other new uses for the facilities designed to increase the utilization of the facility while decreasing the overall cost of operations to the taxpayer.

Only one Community Partnership Arrangement would be entered into by Norfolk County per facility and naming rights opportunities for the facilities or portions of the facilities or other recognition will be provided.

All executed contracts for advertising on arena wall, board and/or ice resurfacers in effect at the time of transition must be assumed by the proponent.

Submissions for any reason other than the Operation and Management of arenas or community halls or for the development of a Community Partnership Arrangement will not be considered as part of the CFS process.

However, if a proponent has another option for Norfolk County to consider, they can submit a fulsome proposal to the County and it will be considered an Unsolicited Submission. Staff and Council can review these submissions and reserves the right to provide a direct award to a Proponent.