New Brunswick
Fredericton — The Government of New Brunswick has unveiled a new responsible-gaming policy that makes way for the construction of gambling facilities in the province. A Request for Proposals has been issued by the Lotteries Commission of New Brunswick to secure a developer to design, construct, finance and operate a destination casino, including supporting amenities, including hotel, race-track and convention centre. Proposals are due by March 2008 and an award is anticipated mid-summer. — Shannon Ernst

Ontario
Flamborough — Rosart Properties Inc. will construct a new retail complex in this central Ontario town. The project value is estimated at $10 million. Phase One of the Flamborough Power Centre includes an 80,000 square foot Canadian Tire, a 20,000 square foot Boston Pizza and 70,000 square feet of general commercial space. Additional phases will include nine more commercial buildings. Construction schedules for the commercial space have not been determined. S. Lewellyn & Associates Ltd completed the civil engineering, but an architect has not yet been secured. — Samantha Vartiamaki

Niagara — The Regional Municipality of Niagara is seeking federal and provincial funding to proceed with an irrigation system in Niagara Region. The system will provide water to fruit, grape and greenhouse growers in the northern portion of the region. Stantec Consulting completed an Environmental Assessment for the project and is currently completing a Phasing Report for Niagara Region. The project is expected to help local growers increase production. The system is expected to cost $5 million to construct, although Niagara Region has not determined any construction schedules at this time. — Samantha Vartiamaki

Manitoulin Island — M’Chigeeng First Nation plans to build a $21 million wind farm on Manitoulin Island in Billings Township. The wind farm will be known as the Mere Wind Farm. The community is currently working with 3G Energy, Ottawa and Helimax Energy, Montreal to complete a feasibility study, business plan and connection impact assessment for this project. The wind farm will include six turbines and is expected to create an extra 10 megawatts of energy for the M’Chigeeng First Nation community. — Samantha Vartiamaki

East Luther Grand Valley — Windrush Energy Corporation will design, build and operate three wind farms in this western Ontario township. Together they will produce about 30 megawatts of energy annually. Construction is expected to begin in 2008 and be completed in 2010. Hatch Acres in Oakville completed the cost consulting for this project and estimate construction costs at $68 million. — Samantha Vartiamaki

Kingston — Infrastructure Ontario has issued an invited tender for a $35 million redevelopment of Kingston General Hospital. The 313,000 square feet of redeveloped space includes a new acute mental-health unit, an expanded cancer centre and a specialized clinic for pediatric patients. The designs were completed by Mill & Ross Associates. Structural designs were completed by Adjelein Allen Rubeli Ltd., while Thompson Rosemount Group Inc. completed the electrical and mechanical designs. The pre-qualified contractors are: Bondfield Construction Company Ltd, EllisDon Corporation, M Sullivan & Son Ltd, PCL Constructors Ltd. and Vanbots Construction Corporation. Construction is slated for April 2008. — Samantha Vartiamaki

Ajax and Brooklin — The Durham District School Board has issued a pre-qualification for general contractors to construct four new schools over the next two years. The Olde Winchester Public School and the Tormina Woodlands Public School will both be located in Brooklin and will be approximately 56,000 and 53,000 square feet, respectively. The Hamlet Public School will be located in Ajax and will be approximately 58,000 square feet. The Meadows of Ajax Public School is expected to be approximately 56,000 square feet. — Samantha Vartiamaki

Barrie — Barrie has issued a pre-qualification for general contractors and sub-contractors to construct the Barrie Surface Water Treatment Plant and a low-life pumping station. Construction of these facilities is expected to cost $80 million. The facilities were designed by Brown & Storey Architects (of Toronto) and Markham’s Genivar Consulting Group Ltd (formerly Macviro Consultants Inc). — Samantha Vartiamaki

Toronto — The Toronto Transit Commission has launched the first phase of the Greater Toronto Area’s redevelopment of rapid transit with a two-phased Request For Proposals for consultants to complete feasibility studies and Environmental Assessments. This phase of the $6-billion Transit City plan calls for seven new light-rail routes crisscrossing Toronto. The first phase of construction is expected to begin in late 2008. — Chrissie O’Brien

Blind River — Blind River Development Corporation and the City of Brockville have issued a Request for Proposals for engineering services for an eco-industrial park and biomass generating facility. Once awarded the contract, the consultant will work with MHPM Project Managers of Ottawa to develop a conceptual plan for the park, geo-technical and site investigations, and designs for the biomass generating facility. The park and biomass facility are expected to cost approximately $40 million. — Samantha Vartiamaki

Alberta
Stettler — Greengate Power Corporation, a privately-held wind power company, has filed its Preliminary Assessment Application with the Alberta Electric System Operator. The application is for its proposed 150 megawatt Halkirk Wind Project. The project will be developed on approximately 15,000 acres of private land in east-central Alberta. Environmental assessment and public consultation are currently underway. The project’s value is estimated at $300 million. — Jenniffer Hall

Crossfield — ENMAX Energy Corporation is proposing the construction and operation of a natural gas-fired power generating station that will provide up to 120 megawatts of energy to help meet southern Alberta’s growing demand for power. The proposed Crossfield Energy Centre “peaking” facility will be designed to meet southern Alberta’s seasonal and daily peak load power requirements. It will also be designed as a natural gas-fired, simple-cycle generation facility. Detailed engineering and design of the Crossfield Energy Centre is not yet complete. Construction costs are estimated at $150 million. — Jenniffer Hall

Red Deer — Greengate Power Corporation is proposing to develop a 100-megawatt-capacity wind farm east of Red Deer Regional International Airport. The project is preliminary and no timeline has been set for either the environmental assessments or public consultations at this time. Construction costs are estimated at $200 million. — Jenniffer Hall

Lethbridge — Greengate Power Corporation is proposing to develop the 100-megawatt Stirling wind project on approximately 15,000 acres of private land located in southeastern Alberta. Located on a high plateau of cultivated land, initial micro-scale modelling indicates wind resources of approximately 8.0 metres per second or 18 miles per hour. Environmental assessments and public consultation sessions are currently underway. Construction costs are estimated at $200 million. — Jenniffer Hall

Drumheller — Greengate Power Corporation is proposing to develop a 150 megawatt capacity wind project called Wintering Hills on approximately 20,000 acres of private land. Situated on a high plateau of cultivated and grazing land, initial microscale modelling indicates a very good to excellent wind resource of approximately 7.5 m/s to 8.0 m/s (metres per second). Environmental assessments and public consultations for the project are currently underway. The project is expected to cost approximately $300 million. — Jenniffer Hall

Edmonton — Alberta Infrastructure has called a Request for Qualification for the design, construction, finance and maintenance of nine new schools in Edmonton and Calgary. The process will close in late November 2007. The new schools will be built to provincial standards, using a standard-core design. The project includes K-4, K-6 and K-9 school configurations only. The permanent core building with the essential elements of a school will be complemented by state-of-the-art, steel-framed modular classrooms that can be added or removed as required. The schools will be built to LEED Silver standard. — Jenniffer Hall

British Columbia
Vernon — The Gernot Langes-Swarovski Group has received approval to construct an upscale resort adjacent to Predator Ridge, a new subdivision on the edge of Vernon. When complete, the project will include a 150-room hotel, conference centre, 20,000-square-foot wellness centre and 4,500 square feet of commercial space. Vancouver-based Cannon Design are the architects for the $70 million project and Semeschuck Projects are the construction managers. Due to mounting construction costs, the developers are currently raising additional funds. — John Gracey

Abbotsford — In conjunction with Partnerships BC, The Fraser Health Authority is looking into the redevelopment of the Matsqui Sumas Abbotsford General Hospital site. The MSA is being replaced by a new $300 million regional hospital and cancer centre. Selection of a prime consultant is currently underway to handle the initial planning services and analysis of the site’s potential. This will be followed by a formal proposal call to the private sector for the purchase and redevelopment of the site. The scope of the project and potential construction budget is undetermined at this time. Completion is scheduled for early summer 2008. — Sam Van Aert

Victoria — Townline Group was granted zoning approval in early 2007 to exceed Victoria’s building height restrictions and to significantly alter the Hudson’s Bay store. Townline has hired Merrick Architecture to design a mixed-use complex that includes three structures with 550 condominium units and retail, office and institutional space. The former store will receive a major alteration, while the highest tower will rise to 24 stories. The $220 million project is scheduled to begin in early spring 2008 and completion is set for 2012. Townline will act as construction manager for the project. — John Gracey

Vancouver — The Vancouver Aquarium has made a formal development application to the city for a $120 million project. Work is underway by MCM Partnership Architects on an expansion plan that includes a new sea-life exhibit, expansion of the Arctic Canada Exhibit, two new public plazas, a public washroom facility, a new restaurant and a concession area. In total, the project will occupy 115,000 square feet on a ½ acre plot of land adjacent to the existing aquarium. Construction is expected to commence in late 2008 or early 2009. — Sam Van Aert

Victoria — The University of Victoria was recently granted approval to expand its office park with three new office buildings. Cannon Design completed a master plan, but an architect will not be retained until tenants have been secured. The university hopes to start construction in late 2008. The estimated cost is $80 million and the combined buildings will contain 250,000 square feet of space. — John Gracey

Vancouver — A preliminary presentation has been made to the City of Vancouver for the development of a 60% city-owned waterfront lot. The Millennium Development Corp. is currently seeking rezoning of the prime site for a future comprehensive development that will feature a landmark building. The conceptual plan was designed by Henriquez Partners Architects and Urban Design. Negotiations are very preliminary and so details of the plan, including a construction schedule or confirmed budget, have not been released at this time. — Sam Van Aert

Fort St. John — G8 Properties, in partnership with Calgary’s Property Developer Group, has received approval to construct an entirely new community on the edge of Fort St. John. The neighborhood will be completed with 200 single family houses, 500 condominium units, hotel, shopping centre, and truck-repair centre. The project will total 500,000 square feet of space. Designed by Urban Design Group, Station 44 is scheduled to begin construction in spring of 2008, with completion slated for 2013.  Omicron will act as the construction managers for the $120 million project. — John Gracey

Victoria — A funding announcement for a new academic building is anticipated by Royal Roads University’s administration within the next few weeks. Details of the project are vague, but the funding approval could be as high as $40 million. The selection of the architect, tendering and construction schedules will depend upon the funding amount. The announcement is anticipated before the end of December. A Request For Proposals from architects could be released in early 2008 if funding is approved. — John Gracey

Contributors: Simon Dickie, John Gracey, Jenniffer Hall, Chrissie O'Brien, Samantha Vartiamaki and Sam Van Aert.

Sources: RCD Canada, Victoria Times, Government of Alberta and Red Deer Advocate News

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