ATHABASCA — With spring sunshine, warmer weather and further economic instability on the horizon, the Rotary Club of Athabasca is eager to get one of their major community projects off the page and into the ground before the steadily-increasing cost estimates spike even sharper.
The local Rotary chapter has been fundraising for, planning and designing the Riverfront Shade Pavilion project, slated for installation near the Rotary Spray Park, for about three years, during which the club has banked $140,000 for the project through community fundraising efforts.
But Rotarian and project co-lead Mike Gismondi told Town of Athabasca councillors the club needed a $125,000 front to get the ball rolling this spring before costs for material and labour push the shade structure budget beyond club capacity.
“The total project costs have risen from $245,000 to approximately $269,000 over the last year,” Gismondi wrote in his submission to councillors. He appeared in council chambers April 1 to present his formal ask for funds in-person.
“That’s the current budget — I just got another update, but we can handle it,” said Gismondi. “Every time I talk to this guy, somehow it goes up.”
While the club has applied for a $120,000 matching grant from the provincial Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) grant in January, notice of approval or denial won’t be available until late June — a timeline Gismondi said is too tight to get started this year.
But dipping into the club budget before then could mean less matching grant money to work with, and waiting for another year means higher project costs.
Councillors unanimously agreed to support the project with a loan for the full amount requested, including a three-year, interest-free payback period, with the money to come from reserves.
“The Rotary Club is one of the most active and progressive service clubs that we have in this town, and I appreciate everything they do,” said Coun. Dave Pacholok. “This is a good opportunity to make an improvement to the town that will enhance the Riverfront, so I’m in full support.”
Gismondi, Mayor Rob Balay and others around the table noted the loan isn’t the first of its kind — the Town has provided Rotary and other community clubs with financial help for large projects in the past, providing as much as $250,000 with no payback problems.
Inflation issues
Gismondi said since the club’s last CFEP grant application for the project, he’s seen costs across the board rise between 10 and 14 per cent, a steep rate of inflation for a community club to contend with, even before the onset of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war.
“Everyone was saying, ‘You realize that concrete’s going to go up, and labour’s going up, everything’s going up’ — and food was going crazy,” said Gismondi. “The other problem we have up here in Northern Alberta is the construction season’s so short, especially if we want to pour concrete and build things while it’s decent weather.”
Gismondi said to avoid even more inflationary hikes to the budget, securing the materials for the structure and starting site prep as early as possible is necessary to squeeze into fast-filling contractor schedules.
Edmonton-based Jerell Friesen of Bower Heavy Timber Frame MFG has been contracted to build the Pavilion structure, which Gismondi said will in itself be a piece of art, merging traditional mortis and tenon joinery with a forward-thinking solar panel array on the roof to produce power.
In order to have the frame complete for this summer, Friesen required a $70,000 deposit to secure materials, money the club didn’t want to spend for fear of reducing their matching contributions considered for the CFEP grant.
With the loan from the town, the club is now able to start paying for elements of the project before news of the grant is received. And if the club is not approved for CFEP, Gismondi said he and project co-lead Brian Scott have flagged portions of the project that can wait for now, including the town-recommended picnic tables and green energy array.
“It’s a piece of heritage construction,” said Gismondi. “We’re going to be able to interpret the heritage, and next year probably get the solar panels on it, and interpret the future.”
Next steps include the permitting process, which Gismondi has no clear timeline on, followed by site prep including leveling, pouring the concrete pad, and pre-drilling screw piles for the structure. If all goes according to plan, locals can expect to see work begin this summer.
Community collaboration
Although the project is being spearheaded by Rotary, the Riverfront Pavilion will be a culmination of community efforts and local dollars collected over the last three years.
The proceeds from the Rotary Club’s 2024 Celebrity Dinner and other fundraisers have helped support the project’s bottom line, and recently another Athabasca organization has offered to help.
Local Wellness alternative clinic started their Give-Back program in February, donating a
percentage of monthly sales back to local organizations and volunteer groups, and clinic owner Camille Wallach said the program hits two birds with one holistic stone.
“It’s an easy fundraiser for people,” said Wallach. “Being a volunteer myself, burnout’s a real thing. This way, people can come take care of themselves and still give back to the community.”
Gismondi and other club members expressed gratitude for all contributions made toward the club and it’s projects, and are hoping to source continued community support in the final stages of the shade structure.
