A sample menu was presented of what might be served at Queens Place, ranging from sandwiches to hamburgers and fries. The sample menu was based from similar facilities around the province of Nova Scotia.
Councillor Randi Dickie says overall the menu looked good, but she had hoped to see more healthy choices.
“I think it’s important to tie it in to the lifestyle that we’re trying to promote with Queens Place. It goes hand in hand,” she said.
Neil Raymond, facility manager for Queens Place, said there is room for changes if council decides they want to go that route.
“When it comes to the healthy food alternatives, we’ll bring a balance,” said Raymond.
Building update
Progress on construction is still on track according to Brad Rowter, director of engineering and works with the Region of Queens.
He said most of the sections have been roughed in with the tilt-up concrete panels, and work has begun on drywalling the lobby area.
Refrigeration equipment was installed in July, so work is underway to prepare the flooring of the ice surface. The flooring needs to be insulated first, with cooling equipment run underneath before the concrete is poured. The ice surface of Queens Place will be cooled from below once complete.
Accessibility
The question was raised about how staff would handle an emergency situation where people with mobility issues could not use the elevator.
Raymond said they are in the process of developing their emergency planning, now that Queens Place is nearing completion. However he said some planning on this issue has already begun.
“That would be taken care of by the ushers, and they would be trained in for people in wheelchairs or others that may need assistance.”
In addition to ushers, security and first aid people would also likely be trained.
Fitness accessibility
In order to accommodate people with mobility or other physical disabilities, Raymond said they were working to add equipment that would meet people with these needs. He said they have already spoken to the physiotherapy department at Queens General Hospital, and recommendations were made for additional equipment.
While the tender is closed for equipment, Raymond says additional equipment can be purchased relatively quickly if they find something is lacking.
“There’s room for other pieces down the road, if we see they are fit for our facility,” he said.
