By Matt Pouncy

Veiner Centre open to the public after ceremony this afternoon

Jul 24, 2018 | 5:36 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Hundreds of people gathered outside for the grand opening of the brand new Veiner Centre.

The building will be fully operational starting tomorrow, with a new look for the Medicine Hat seniors’ community.

The project finished on time, on budget, and saw the old building renovated with an additional 5,000 square feet of space added on.

Most of the old centre had to be stripped away due to damage from the 2013 flood, but five years later many members of the community are ready to see what the new space will offer.

Young minds, big ideas: Elementary students learn about urban planning with 'Box City'

10h ago

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

Medicine Hat company drawing in clients with witty signage

Apr 16, 2024

“It’s come a very long way and I think people really appreciate it. I think they’ll be using it more than they ever used to use it,” said one person at the ceremony.

“You know it’s about time, and I think it’s going to be a fantastic addition to our entire community. There’s no doubt,” said another person at the ceremony.

The mayor, councillors and several other dignitaries were there to mark the grand re-opening.

“Obviously the anticipation for five years,” said Mayor Clugston. “I mean this is a home to some people, their home was annihilated. It was destroyed and they’re finally getting to come home.”

The $12 million building has gone through some drastic changes, with bits and pieces of the old structure included in the new space. 

In the new area, Veiner Centre members will have a chance to use new game, and craft rooms along with a 350 person dining room.

With the Strathcona Centre now closed until the fall for upgrades, Randy Follett, manager of community connections and support with the city, says the Veiner Centre will fill the void until both buildings are operational.

“We’re working around it right now, and the thing is the building is so multi-functional that many of the activities can now exist in this building. So we’re in good shape,” said Follett.

It’s not the first time the veiner centre was impacted by a flood, and some still have concerns it could happen again in the future.

Scott Woodside, project manager with the city, says flood mitigation measure like the berms around Strathcona, and Lions Park mean the building is better protected.

“So, if there’s any underlying flooding that will help take care of that, the berms in place take care of the overland flooding, and then just from there when you design a parking lot, and land stuff you make sure you contour it properly so that you know water flows in the right direction,” said Woodside.