GORDON/BARRRIE ISLAND鈥擶hile all the work taking place at the Gore Bay-91性息港 Airport will not be entirely complete until this fall, the new terminal is expected to be open and operational by the end of this month or soon after.
鈥淚t will be a showpiece to welcome all aviators and visitors to 91性息港 Island,鈥 stated Lee Hayden, reeve of Gordon/Barrie, which, along with the Town of Gore Bay and Burpee and Mills Township, own and operate the airport.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very welcome news that the terminal and the entire project is nearing completion,鈥 said Reeve Hayden. 鈥淚鈥檝e been in the terminal building, and it is going to be very nice.鈥
Airport Manager Robbie Colwell said, 鈥淣early five years have passed since approval for funding from the Rural and Northern stream of the Investing in Canada Program (ICIP) was received for improvements to the Gore Bay-91性息港 Airport. The construction project included a new air terminal building, helipad and emergency stand-by generator.鈥
鈥淓xcitement is now brewing at the airport as the finish line for the new air terminal building is now in sight,鈥 said Mr. Colwell. 鈥淭he modern, bright and spacious new building will soon be the headquarters for airport operations as well as many other airport support services and client amenities.鈥
Mr. Colwell explained the building will house the region鈥檚 Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office, a pilot fatigue management/flight planning area and a food server. 鈥淭he large centre core is the focal point of the building which connects to all components, presenting amazing views airside through the full-span glass wall. Sufficient washrooms, a small meeting/day rental office and space for the Gore Bay Flying Club complement the facility.鈥
鈥淭he structure is built to post-disaster structural standards and can be used as an emergency/crisis management centre,鈥 said Mr. Colwell. 鈥淭he terminal has adopted the latest in technology, energy efficiency and functionality that will better serve the aviation community.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 said that anything that is worthwhile takes time,鈥 said Reeve Hayden. 鈥淭he biggest delay in this project has been COVID-related inflationary costs that prevented us to get construction started earlier.鈥
鈥淩obby Colwell is expected to be moving over to the new airport terminal building in mid to late June,鈥 said Gore Bay Mayor Ron Lane. He noted the entire airport project will not officially be done until September with the demolition of the current airport terminal, landscaping and fencing to take place.
鈥淭his is a $4 plus million project and will not only benefit the aviation community, staff and visitors to the airport, but will provide a helipad that will provide safety,鈥 said Mayor Lane.
鈥淥ur airport can handle just about anything in terms of aircraft, is a fully operational municipal airport and provides weather service as well,鈥 said Mayor Lane.
As was reported previously, in early June 2023 a $4.3 million contract was awarded by the owners of the airport, Gore Bay, Gordon/Barrie Island and Burpee and Mills township to Lignum Builders of Espanola for the construction. Funding for the projects is coming from FedNor, the owner municipalities, the Airport Commission and private donors.
鈥淭he future of the airport looks much brighter as we put our upgrades into action to infuse optimum customer experience, strengthen aviation safety and offer much improved service deliverables to our users,鈥 said Mr. Colwell. 鈥淭he aviation community already loves our airport, and this relationship will intensify once people start flowing through this magnificent facility that will form a key role in expanding our airport as an aviation hub.鈥
