(Photo: Johnny Leroux Arena. File photo by Barry Gray.)
The city spent about a quarter of a million dollars this year to fix a mould problem uncovered at the Johnny Leroux Arena during a routine inspection, but officials say it posed no health risk.
“There was no health risk to staff or the public at any time. Air samples were taken once mould was discovered and continued during the abatement work. Air samples were not elevated at any time,” wrote Councillor Shad Qadri in an email to StittsvilleCentral.ca.
The project came at about the same time the city was spending $4-million to fix a mould problem at the Goulbourn Recreation Centre swimming pool. That facility was closed for about 18 months while crews re-built the pool structure.
City staff say that all city facilities undergo regular inspections for numerous items including mould, and that it’s not uncommon for older buildings to be more susceptible to mould.
Work included a $42,535 contract to O’Reilly Bros of Nepean to “provide services, equipment and materials for mould abatement,” and $208,200 to Hasting Painting Corp of Windsor for “repairs to wall systems”.
The city says work included mould remediation within the arena, building envelope repairs, and providing an anti-fungicide coating within the arena area.
The arena was built in 1971 and includes a skating rink and community hall.