Hall Replacement Update

UPDATE ON THE EFFORTS TO REPLACE RITCHIE’S HALL AND REVITALIZE THE SITE.

First, we have reached a significant milestone - I am proud to announce that we have finalized the construction drawings for the replacement of the Ritchie hall. The site and building plans represent a vision of accessibility, energy efficiency, and forward-thinking  - a design that we can be incredibly proud of.

In February, we successfully obtained approval from the City for our development permit, marking a big step forward in the Ritchie Hall Revitalization Committee efforts. We couldn't be more thrilled with this achievement, and we invite you to learn more about the design and site plan on May 5, from 12 pm to 2 pm. Volunteers who have worked on the project will be on hand to display the building plans, provide information about the 10-year process, and provide details on how the site will change parking, trees, rink and court area. 

However, with this good news we must also address some setbacks that we've encountered. Unfortunately, we did not receive the federal grant we had applied for, which would have covered 60% of the project’s cost. Despite our best efforts and meeting all qualifications, we were left disappointed to learn we were not awarded the grant and disheartened by the lack of explanation provided. These funds, along with available City and Provincial grants would have had us starting the construction in January 2025. We also learned in March that our project was not selected for funding under the Alberta Capital Plan, despite aligning with several Ministerial provincial mandates and important targets for the Government of Alberta, such as the Carbon 2050 plan.

In moving forward, we recognize the need for a different approach. We are exploring alternative avenues for funding with private trusts and foundations as well as partnerships with charities and organizations that align with Ritchie values. We are exploring creative ways to acquire capital funds.

As we explore new models, I welcome your expertise for input into this process or in building marketing products. If your expertise can bring forward ideas, suggestions or advice, I encourage you to reach out to me directly at president@rithcie-league.com to participate in ‘meeting of the minds’. We are just in the beginning stages to overcome the funding challenges - there’s lots to explore 

The league remains committed to delivering affordable recreation, socials, and services to our community and to build a stronger, more vibrant community for all.

Thank you for participating in this great community.

Sincerely,

Carly Steiger

President

Ritchie Community League

New Hall Coming?

I certainly hope so…on behalf of the current and past Board of Directors, the Ritchie Hall Revitalization Committee (RHRC), league members and Ritchie residents, I am pleased to announce that we have finalized site and hall plans! We have applied to the City of Edmonton for development permits and are awaiting a response from both the federal and provincial government on their support for funding assistance for this incredibly forward-thinking project.

Click picture for project details and detailed drawings

Almost 10 years have passed since we began planning to replace Ritchie’s dilapidating community hall. In the intervening period, its condition deteriorated such that the league has prioritized a new building. RCL faced some unique challenges throughout the planning and design phases, including the following:

• The League does not own the land upon which it operates. Instead, it leases land from the City of Edmonton. As such, capital improvements are subject to an extensive (and helpful) City review process and the League must meet standards that exceed the usual bylaws and building codes.

• Since it does not own the land, RCL is not eligible for a mortgage. To build any capital assets, the League must rely on grants funding and fundraising.

•  The grants for which the league is eligible have tight timelines and require an extensive amount of volunteer time. Moreover, they are often oversubscribed and amounts fluctuate from year to year.

• The cost of construction (labour and materials) has exploded since 2018 and continues to increase due to supply chain issues, wildfires, global conflicts and inflation.

Nevertheless, the League persevered - the RHRC has applied for development permits, a federal grant and for Alberta Capital Plan funding. We are currently putting together a tender package.

You can see some of the drawings and learn about where we’re at on our website (direct link here). There’s also some background information, if you’re not familiar with the project.

Some key learnings and highlights in the construction drawing process are as follows:

• Regardless of whether the League renovates or builds a new hall, the site infrastructure below ground requires an overhaul. This means the electrical service lines, water lines, drainage, and parking lot are not grandfathered and require updating.

• To prevent damage to elm trees, to align with programming needs (provided during engagement), and to keep the hall operational during construction, the new building will moved to a different site within our licenced area.

• The cost of the project is greater than what the League’ can save by collecting donations or in selling t-shirts. The only way to raise the money needed is through grants, partnerships, and fundraising. And we’re not the only league with this challenge…

• Designing a facility that is safe, accessible to all, resilient to extreme heat, cold and wind, and that can produce as much energy as it uses, requires highly qualified professionals and comes at a very high cost.