After months of preparation and speculation, a deal is in place covering a crucial piece of the expanded space inside Renfrew’s myFM Centre.
Town Council has signed off on a lease agreement with the Bonnechere Algonquin First Nation for the approximately 9,967-square-foot Community Cultural Centre, which has remained under development while the rest of the new arena space gradually progressed to full occupancy over the first half of 2024.
Reeve Peter Emon would express his excitement in seeing the partnership enter the next stage ahead of the centre’s official opening later this year.
The two sides have been working together on the indigenous cultural centre since 2019, and the pact was instrumental in obtaining grant money from the federal and provincial governments to make it a reality.
Emon notes that the educational and cultural impact that the deal with BAFN provides for the community is also a significant part of the reason they could move forward with the local arena’s expansion.
He also believes that the Community Cultural Centre ties in well with other features and services that have been brought to Ma-te-Way Park.
The 25-year lease is worth $25,000 annually starting in 2026 and comes with the chance to negotiate cost-of-living adjustments starting in 2031, the opportunity for the town to sublease part of the cultural centre if BAFN is unable to occupy all of it, and the possibility to extend their agreement down the road.
The BAFN are expected to begin moving in between July and August, with the lease officially commencing on September 1st. When previously reached for comment, BAFN Chief Richard Zohr said they hope to open this fall.
(written by Kasey Egan)