The City of Fernie has closed the Community Centre after recent assessments found serious health and safety hazards in the building.
City officials said it was a difficult but necessary decision following indoor air quality and building condition assessments.
“Staff have noted the Community Centre facility deteriorating significantly over the last ten years, which prompted further investigation by Health and Safety and the Parks, Facilities, and Recreation department earlier this year to assess the state of the facility in more detail,” said city officials.
Indoor air quality and mould testing found mould and spores in the building, prompting a comprehensive assessment.
City officials said inspectors found more serious concerns, including issues with the building’s structure and envelope.
The facility is closed until further notice as of Wednesday, June 12, pending mitigation and abatement.
However, city officials said the work needed to make the Community Centre safe for public use will be extensive and cost-prohibitive.
Fernie’s Parks, Facilities and Recreation department will contact those with existing bookings or requests to arrange alternative plans.
“We appreciate that this will cause significant disruption for facility users and event hosts who rely on this facility, and we are dedicating resources to work with users to determine alternate arrangements at other facilities, while we explore longer-term options.
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