Thursday night the Town of Okotoks held an open house about the expansion plans for Pason Centennial Centre.

Members of the community check out the open house.

Members of the communities were able to come out and see what is being added to the facility including the NHL-sized ice surface.

Community Services Director Susan Laurin says that the addition of this ice surface will help with Okotoks Minor Hockeys ice problems.

"They have made a presentation to council asking for additional ice, with that we are expecting that once we open our doors for prime time ice, we will be booked 100%."

Explaining that prime time ice is typically after school and weekends.

A leisure ice surface will also be added to the facility.

Laurin continues that this is ice surface will be used for public skating, and she is excited about the atmosphere that this rink will bring.

"There will be a fireplace where people can come and have hot chocolate by then do a couple of laps around the rink."

She says that the architects that have been working on the designs did a great job with the amount of space and area they had to work with.

"We were able to accommodate and incorporate the Foothills Centennial Centre so it will be one large recreation and leisure facility."

The plans will be taken to the Municipal Planning Commission by the end of August for approval, and Laurin says they hope to break ground by the first week of October at the latest.

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