The Albert Park-Radisson Heights community centre in southeast Calgary has been closed after mould was discovered earlier in March.
The Albert Park-Radisson Heights Community Association board, which manages the centre, voted on March 9 to close the facility.
In a letter posted to its website, the board said air monitoring had “revealed fungal contamination in two portions of the facility may pose a health risk to some members of the public.”
The community centre, located at 1310 28 St. S.E., will be closed for up to 60 days, the board said in the letter.
Air quality testing done by a contractor showed the kitchen and basement storage areas have evidence of mould growth.
Councillor Gian-Carlo Carra said while the situation is unfortunate, it also presents an opportunity to reimagine the purpose of the community centre and how it’s paid for so that it doesn’t need to rely on public funding and volunteers to maintain it.
Carra said he believes the community centre could become a place that houses seniors and serves as a cultural space.
The board said in the letter it doesn’t know what caused the mould to build up in these areas.
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Albert Park-Radisson Heights Community Association president Nancy Kearney told Global News on Tuesday that the damage has existed “for years.”
“It’s very upsetting,” Kearney said. “We serve the community and they look forward to the events we had here for them.
“Neglect is the biggest thing with this hall.”
“When 2013 came–and we had the rains and the water that came down into the kitchen–and at our expense, we had to get a roofing company and try and patch the roof. The damage happened and was never checked for mould issues until the first air quality test. So the kitchen is off-limits.
“The extent of the damage you haven’t seen, because it’s in the basement. However, you can’t put good money after bad. It’s inevitable–it’s got to come down.”
The board is conducting more air quality testing in different parts of the building. The main hall, boardroom, upstairs office and downstairs lounge had not been initially tested, but the contractor will “target these areas to determine if they are fit for occupancy,” the letter said.
It is the responsibility of the board to remediate the mould issue, as it is the operator of the facility, the letter added.
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