The waters have changed course for a new Barrie Navy League/Sea Cadets facility on Kempenfelt Bay’s south shore.
Instead of being located between the Rotary Fish Habitat Islands and Southshore Centre, the sailing facility could now go just east of Military Heritage Park, members of the city’s infrastructure and community investment committee decided Wednesday night.
“Either one I’m good with,” said Diane Chislet, Navy League Barrie branch president. “It makes sense to put us on the other side of Military Heritage Park because we are kind of military, in a way. It’s secure, it’s safe.
“It makes sense to gather them together," she added. "I’m not particular to what side (the south side of Kempenfelt Bay) we go to.”
“This is high and dry, this is flat,” said Mayor Alex Nuttall, while explaining the east of Military Heritage Park location, and noting there could be parade grounds at nearby Allandale Station Park.
Although no design plans have been drawn up, Chislet said she expects water access to be similar to what Barrie Rowing Club and Barrie Canoe and Kayak Club, stationed in Southshore Centre, have from there.
City councillors gave initial approval of a motion to endorse, in principle, this as the future location — pending a $200,000 feasibility study this year and next, including a site investigation, cost consulting and initial public and stakeholder consultation. Staff would then report back to the committee.
Construction costs for a new Navy League/Sea Cadets facility, its associated site work, project costs and contingency reserves are estimated at $4 million to $6 million in 2023 figures. Construction on a new facility might not begin until 2026.
The location east of Military Heritage Park still requires general committee and city council approval.
Coun. Nigussie Nigussie said there are several reasons why this is the best site.
“After discussions with staff and upon further review, there doesn't seem to be any issue with relocating to the flat area directly east of the Military Heritage Park, where the lower path would provide direct access to the waterfront as required," he said.
Nigussie also said the west side of Southshore Centre would not accommodate parade grounds needed for cadet programming and that safety is an issue to the west due to the proximity to Tiffin Boat Launch.
“There is concern that the west side of Southshore (Centre), with the Tiffin Boat Launch, Allandale Station and the pavilion, is already congested,” Nigussie said. “Adding anything else would further impact the open green space there.”
The south shore of Kempenfelt Bay makes most sense as the new location, officials says, as the west and north shores of the bay lack the land capacity to hold a new building.
Whether the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) agrees with the proposed location is another matter.
The city staff report says disturbing an unstable slope next to water requires removal of vegetation in an LSRCA regulated area for both the building and the relocation of pathways. This requires LSRCA approval, according to city staff, and preliminary talks indicate this isn’t a sure thing.
“If we go down this road and the conservation authority says no, do we have a backup plan?” asked Coun. Clare Riepma.
Relocating from the current facility, located at 11 Simcoe St., would also free that city-owned land for redevelopment.
Committee approved a motion Wednesday night that city staff be authorized to investigate potential lease partners for new retail, tourism or service building, not to exceed three storeys, to be constructed on the land currently occupied by the Sea Cadets, once they have been relocated.
Riepma said the next logical step is what to do with the current Sea Cadets property after they’re gone.
“We should never sell waterfront property that we own, but I think this property has a fair bit of potential for some sort of use,” he said. “Some of the income from this lease would offset the cost that we will be assuming in terms of moving the cadets as well.”
Last month, the Navy League Barrie Branch submitted a facility request to the city. It includes inside storage for all sailboats and safety boats, masts, life-jackets and helmets, a residential kitchen, washrooms, including shower stalls, change rooms, a classrooms area for on-land training, secure storage for equipment, secure storage for uniforms and an office, a paved ramp to the water floating docks, secure outdoor storage for gas shed, and a total estimated facility area of 4,500 square feet.
Chislet has said the Navy League/Sea Cadets will be fundraising, for what’s inside the building, not its actual construction. It would be a city-owned building.
Flanked by Barrie Marina and the Bayfield Street Basin Transient Marina, the current Sea Cadets building has been city property since 2016 and the Navy League/Sea Cadets have a lease of approximately 24 years there. The property, which includes a 60-by-40-foot, two-level boathouse, is located between Maple Avenue and Bayfield Street. The boathouse is used for repairs, storage, meetings and events as well as a general gathering place for parades and movie nights.
But as Kempenfelt Bay has become busier with boat traffic, the Sea Cadets have looked for a new facility.
Founded in 1943, the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps No. 53 Barrie is now one of only four remaining locations in Ontario where Sea Cadet units located in central Ontario can go to complete their central nautical support training on water, including sailing levels, shortwave radio and safety on water training up to instructor level.
Programs are free for Barrie Navy League Cadets (No. 24 Navy League Chambly) ages nine to 12 and Barrie Sea Cadets (No. 53 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps) ages 12 to 18 to join. The only financial obligation of the cadet’s family is to assist in fundraising.
The Navy League Barrie Branch says enrolment prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was approximately 80 to 90 Sea Cadets and 75 Navy League Cadets in their annual program.
The branch also manages approximately 50 cadets for each of the two-day weekend sailing programs during 17 weeks of the summer and approximately 200 Navy League Cadets during the summer weekdays.
