Portions of the Taber Community Centre are expected to begin reopening at the beginning of March after asbestos testing confirmed safe areas.
Town officials said the testing divided the building into three categories: green zones deemed safe, yellow zones that require minor asbestos abatement and red zones that remain closed and need significant cleanup and repairs.
The town plans to reopen green zone areas to the public around March 1, although the date is approximate and subject to change.
Officials said the areas expected to reopen are primarily on the east side of the building and include the auditorium, several meeting rooms and leased spaces such as the Taber and District Chamber of Commerce, Tank 77 Museum, Bodymasters Gym and the archery range.
Before reopening, town crews will complete final cleaning and confirm utilities are fully operational. Officials noted these areas are dusty from being closed for an extended period, but testing confirmed they are safe for public use.
RELATED STORY: ‘Thank you could never be enough’: Southern Alberta rallies behind Taber Hockeyville support
Areas that will remain closed for an extended period include all arena areas — such as ice surfaces, change rooms, rink lobbies and leased spaces — the curling club, meeting rooms not on the east side of the building, and areas requiring asbestos abatement or significant repairs. Officials said those spaces were the most heavily affected and will need extensive work before they can reopen.
The town said it is exploring the possibility of reopening the large ice surface in the future. Officials said this area needs minor construction to repair walls and isolate the space from damaged areas. It could potentially reopen as soon as Aug. 1, but the timeline is not guaranteed and further work and approvals are required before reopening can be confirmed.
To date, Taber town council has not made decisions on the long-term future of the damaged portions of the community centre. The town is reported to still be working through the insurance process, and officials said there is no estimated completion date. Once insurance details and costs are better understood, council can discuss next steps and future plans with the community.
Town officials thanked leaseholders for their patience, staff for their continued work and residents for their support, noting the community centre is an important space for Taber. They said updates will continue as more information becomes available.
RELATED STORY: Taber Community Centre explosion ‘not caused by human error’
