FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2004
PRESS RELEASE
Opening of Save-on-Foods
Memorial Centre slated for early
2005
VICTORIA, BC (September 9, 2004)
- RG Properties today announced
that the construction schedule
for the Save-on-Foods Memorial
Centre has been revised with an
opening date planned within the
first two months of 2005.
“The past month has seen solid
progress with the roof trusses
installed and other key
construction milestones,” said
Graham Lee, president of RG
Properties. “We can now predict
an opening date within the first
two months of the new year, in
plenty of time for the World
Curling Championships to take
place in the Centre. We are as
anxious and excited as the rest
of Victoria to see the new
facility opened and our
construction team is working as
quickly as possible to complete
the project.”
The main factor forcing the
project off its previous
construction timetable is a
shortage of available
sub-contractors and skilled
trades people brought on by the
widely reported, province-wide
construction boom underway
throughout B.C. This has been
cited as a major concern of
developers and the construction
industry and is making it
difficult for many major
construction projects across the
province to remain on schedule,
and delaying the start of many
projects altogether.
“We could not have anticipated
this very challenging
construction environment two
years ago when we started down
this road,” said Lee. “Like
local residents, our team
working on this project also
feels the frustration of needing
to push back the opening date.”
Lee noted that the progress of
work over the past month at the
Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre
gives him strong confidence that
the early 2005 opening date is
achievable. “With the roof
structure complete, work inside
is moving ahead quickly.”
Lee also commented that the
scrutiny and speculation about
the project has been hard on
workers at the site who have
been doing a tremendous job in
spite of the challenges. “There
is a lot of pride going into the
construction of this new
facility and all the workers on
the site should be praised for
their hard work and dedication,”
said Lee. “Once opened, I know
Victoria’s new sports and
entertainment facility will
exceed people’s expectations in
terms of design, comfort, and
the quality of events being held
here in the city.”
“We’re going to continue to
focus on the job at hand. People
can look forward to what is a
very positive and exciting
development for Victoria.
The Save-on-Foods Memorial
Centre is going to bring
additional vitality to the
city,” Lee added.
About RG Properties
RG Properties Ltd. is a
diversified entrepreneurial real
estate development and operating
company with long-term holdings
in shopping centres, a hotel,
and major industrial buildings.
The company is also a leader in
the development and operations
of recreational/entertainment
facilities. In addition to
Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in
Victoria, RG Properties’
holdings are located throughout
British Columbia in Kelowna,
Kamloops, Prince George,
Parksville, and Greater
Vancouver. RG Properties was
awarded the 2000 Canadian
Council for Public Private
Partnerships Gold Award for
Infrastructure for Prospera
Place in Kelowna. Prospera Place
has also been voted “Best
Concert Facility under 15,000
Seats in Canada” by the Canadian
Music Industry.-----
For More Information:
Media Contact: Bill Eisenhauer
Tartan Public Relations
(250) 744-4748
-----
With head office in Vancouver,
RG Arenas is a division of RG
Properties. RG Arenas manage
and/or own facilities in Kelowna,
Greater Vancouver and Victoria,
British Columbia
For more information contact:
Ken Noakes
Victoria Salmon
Kings/Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Phone: (250) 220-7889
Email:
ken.noakes@saveonfoodsmemorialcentre.com
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