Lethbridge Exhibition asking for $4.6 million from city to demolish three pavilions

Staff at the Lethbridge and District Exhibition say they need more than $4.6 million to demolish three of the old pavilions at the site of the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre.

Members of the Economic SPC voted in favour of a motion saying they will provide progress payments for the funds requested.

The Lethbridge and District Exhibition CEO, Mike Warkentin, says there are a number of reasons why the demolition is needed.

“Obviously, there’s a health and safety risk there. Those buildings are well or approaching excuse me, I should say the end of useful life. And that was part of the reason for building new. There’s a significant operational challenge involved with maintaining those buildings and keeping them up. It’s not as simple as just turning them off. There’s some security concerns. We’d have to hoard them. We’d still have to heat them. And so that would further leverage our organization, which would turn this conversation into an operational challenge. We’re not there today.”

Warkentin says the cost of the Agri-Food Hub project has increased by $10 million to around $80 million. The City of Lethbridge has already pitched in with $25 million toward the project.