The City initially estimated the project cost at $2.5M and committed to covering all costs. However, due to constant delays and challenges – and with the need for a new, barrier-free entrance as a result of the heritage protection of the staircase – the cost has skyrocketed to $6.1M for the necessary upgrades. Now, the City has unfairly deemed the NaAC responsible for $1.6M of this total amount to cover essential components like flooring, ceilings, walls, doors, accessible washrooms, and a new entrance.

Specifically:

• $1.3M for flooring, ceilings, walls, doors, accessible washrooms, and other necessary components for a functional community space.
• $350K for the interior retrofits needed for the new entrance to ensure accessibility, required due to the City’s heritage designation of the existing staircase.

While we appreciate the City’s willingness to partner with us and are excited to revitalize the Scouts Hall, it is crucial to highlight:

• Relocation Reason: The NaAC is only moving to the Scouts Hall because of the irreparable damage incurred to our current site following the collapse of the Fairview Arena seven years ago.
• Landlord Responsibilities: Base building upgrades are the City’s responsibility as the landlord.
• Accessibility Issues: The Scouts Hall is currently inaccessible to people with disabilities, requiring major construction for a new entrance.
• Cost Increases: Delays and changing requirements by the City have led to significant cost increases.

In short, the City offered a disability organization a building that is inaccessible and designated its staircase as part of the building’s heritage status. This has led to delays while they determined how to resolve a barrier-free entrance which, in turn, has led to significant inflation-driven cost increases and left the NaAC with a funding deficit. This should not be the sole responsibility of the NaAC, a registered charity serving those living with disabilities and to whom the City has committed enhancements to accessibility. And, ultimately, this facility is owned by The City of Calgary.

The issue is two-fold:

1. Background:
   • The NaAC invested $1.7M into our current facility before the roof collapse.
   • Our lease with the City includes a clause for reimbursement of tenant improvement costs if the lease is terminated.
   • The City committed to providing a functional building at the Scouts Hall, so we did not pursue reimbursement.
2. Issues:
   • The City changed their investment scope, excluding essential building components and placing the $1.6M cost on our charity.
   • The City imposed a requirement to raise 90% of the $1.6M by March 2025. We have secured $1.45M, but the City is delaying the project because $300K of the committed funds will come in after 2025.

Despite multiple attempts to engage with City stakeholders, our requests to meet have been ignored or refused. With our current facility unsafe and slated for demolition, we believe it’s time to bring this issue to the public to highlight the disconnect between community groups and the City of Calgary. Ultimately, we are asking for a solution that respects the $1.45M we have raised so far (despite the $300K that will come in installments) and will prevent further delays on this project that has sat vacant for more than five years.

Email Kay Choi (kay.choi@calgary.ca) and Councillor Terry Wong (terry.wong@calgary.ca), with the following message:

Dear Councillor Wong and Kay Choi:

I’m writing to urge you to remove the barriers hindering the National accessArts Centre’s (NaAC) move to the Scouts Hall (2140 Brownsea Drive NW). The NaAC, Canada’s largest disability arts organization, has spent nearly five years working toward this relocation after the Fairview Arena’s collapse in 2018, only to face delays, rising costs, and unnecessary obstacles.

Despite investing almost $2 million in tenant improvements at the Fairview site—owned by the City of Calgary—our request for reimbursement has been denied. Now, they’re being asked to raise $1.6 million in just nine months or face further delays, while the City has spent years securing $4.5 million for base upgrades at the Scouts Hall.

Let’s be clear: this is not a hockey arena. We know that, and we respect the importance of those spaces. But this project is equally vital for our community. The NaAC is bringing more than $20 million in infrastructure investments into the West Hillhurst area, creating jobs and transforming a City-owned asset into a community resource that will directly benefit thousands of Calgarians. The facility will provide accessible arts and cultural opportunities that are sorely needed for the disability community.

While they’ve raised nearly $1.5 million so far, with a part of it coming in installments, the full financial burden remains heavy on this charity supporting artists with disabilities. It’s time to stop placing unnecessary roadblocks in the way of this project and recognize its value. We are asking for the same support and understanding that’s given to other major city investments like hockey arenas, and for all parties to come back to the table to find a solution that can get the Scouts Hall built into an accessible arts venue for Calgary.

The NaAC is an essential part of our community, and I urge you to do everything you can to make this move happen.

YOUR NAME