SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Summerside’s leadership is setting up a committee to take a serious look at replacing the city’s crumbling downtown fire hall.
The idea was presented during Tuesday night’s police and fire committee meeting, and was unanimously supported by councillors around the table.
“It’s time to do something about our fire hall. This has been a topic of concern for many years,” said Coun. Barb Ramsay, who chairs the fire committee.
“There’s no need for another study. There was a lengthy one completed in 2014 … it’s time to look at this building and make some needed decisions to make it meet the standards required.”
Summerside’s main fire hall is 59-years-old and has a long list of well-known deficiencies.
Sections of the roof blew off twice in less than 12 months, just last year; water problems plague the basement, facilities for female firefighters are sorely deficient; there is only one shower in the whole building; there is insufficient space to house the department’s current and historical equipment and the list goes on.
Subsequent city councils have identified the building’s renovation or replacement as a goal, but finding funding from the provincial and federal governments has reportedly been a problem.
Summerside Mayor Basil Stewart said he’s tired of hearing there’s no money to be found from outside the city to get this project done, and he encouraged the new committee to think outside the box to potentially tap into some of those funding sources.
Stewart pointed to fire halls in other provinces that have added apartment complexes to their roofs, included women’s shelters and even retail space as part of their footprint. A museum of some sort could also be appropriate here, he added.
“We’ve got to think about more than just this brick building with two red doors. We’ve got to really think outside the box, and I think the provincial government and federal governments would come on side if we had the flagship for Atlantic Canada for fire halls,” said Stewart.
Ramsay said the committee will be formed in short order and will start delivering regular updates to council on its progress as soon as possible.
