This past spring, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and other dignitaries tossed shovels of soil to kick-start construction of a massive new Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre at Exhibition Park in southeast Lethbridge, Alta.
“This long overdue investment will allow the economic impact of the Lethbridge Exhibition to grow even more, serving thousands here in the city and the surrounding areas,” he declared to those attending the event.
“With additional capacity for events and opportunities for local producers, businesses and students, the hub is an exciting example of the bold, ambitious and forward-thinking projects powered by Alberta’s Recovery Plan,” the premier said. “This development will help position Alberta for prosperity by creating jobs, attracting investment, and showcasing our province’s growing value-added food sector.”
Six months later, the ground has been cleared for the $70.5-million centre. Trailers, trucks and heavy equipment now dot the site where the building is being erected. There is a pile driver in the middle of the site. Several mounds of brown dirt are piled where the heavy equipment has drilled holes.
Operators are presently in the process of putting structural piles into the ground. They are roughly one-third through the work and anticipate the activity to go on for several more weeks.
Crews are using a Continuous Flight Auger method for the piling, which is virtually vibration free and one of the quietest forms of piling. It is estimated that 316 piles will be installed, or the equivalent of 4.8 kilometres of drilling.
In spite of the COVID-19 protocols in place, the construction project has gone smoothly and the 268,000-square-foot facility is on pace to open in early 2023.
The new structure is the largest development in the history of Lethbridge and District Exhibition and is roughly double the size of the existing centre. It will have a variety of meeting rooms of different sizes and a huge kitchen. One area will be a gathering space that will honour railways with large, exposed timber.
The exhibition hall itself will use bare concrete and basic materials to reflect the mining industry. At 110,000 square feet, it will be capable of attracting large trade shows and conferences with up to 7,000 attendees.
The project was undertaken because many of the buildings had deteriorated and were in need of repair. It was becoming increasingly expensive and unsustainable to operate.
Ward Bros. Construction Ltd. of Lethbridge is managing the project. The company was selected at the end of 2020. The company, founded in 1976, has grown to be one of the largest construction management and design build companies in southern Alberta and has completed numerous marquee projects throughout the region, including West Lethbridge Centre and The Crossings Ice Complex.
Colin Ward, the company’s chief operating officer, said in a statement the firm was honoured to have been selected for the build and looks forward to delivering a transformational project.
The project itself is expected to create nearly 400 construction jobs over three years. Another 50 new, full-time permanent positions will be created to operate the facility.
Once operational, the new centre is expected contribute more than $90 million every year to the regional economy.
The project is funded by the Government of Alberta, through Alberta’s Recovery Plan, the City of Lethbridge, which will maintain ownership of the land, and a 30-year loan secured against the future operations of the facility.
Lethbridge City Council paved the way for the centre in August 2020 when it voted in favour of four motions. The approval followed the Government of Alberta announcing that as part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan it would invest $27.8 million in the development of the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre on the site.
Mike Warkentin, chief operating officer of Lethbridge and District Exhibition, said in a statement the new centre is becoming a reality because of the “unprecedented shared vision and collaboration” of the province, city, Lethbridge and District Exhibition and partners, especially those in the agriculture community.
“Already, this project is becoming a centre of gravity for attracting jobs and people to Lethbridge.”
The investment in the centre will also showcase Canada’s premier food corridor, expedite trade, create market access and generate new investment opportunities.
“The Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre is going to ignite economic growth, not just in Lethbridge and the southern Alberta economy, but also for Canada`s agricultural industry,” said Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman.
“It will attract more traffic, both from within the community, but more importantly from throughout the world, to come to Lethbridge. This will generate more direct flights to our city, increase demand for hotels and generate new investment in our community.”
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