$6M for southeast Family Leisure Centre

The Family Leisure Centre is getting a second ice rink, which may helpease Calgary's indoor ice crunch.

Premier Ed Stelmachannounced $6 million Thursdayfor the southeast recreation centre. The money will go toward several improvements, including building a second arena, a new parking area, and making the building more accessible for wheelchairs.

The cash comes from the province'smajor community facilities program, atwo-year, $280-million, lottery-funded program thathelps municipalities, non-profit organizations and aboriginal communities plan, upgrade or build major publicfacilities.

The new arena is scheduled to be completed by October 2009.

In addition, thecentre has raised$9.5 million inmunicipal funding for the arena, Southcentre Mall is donating $300,000 and Trico Homes has committed $1.5 million over 10 years. The leisure centre will be renamed the Trico Centre for Family Wellness.

Calgary has 48 sheets of ice available for public use, most owned by the city or community groups. A report commissioned by the city concluded Calgary will need at least 10 more sheets by 2010.