A proposal to build a state-of-the-art athletic training facility and public recreation centre has the enthusiastic support of Orangeville Council, which now must find a place to build this imposing facility.

365 Sports Inc. is looking to construct a $5 million, 6,500-square-foot indoor facility, which would include a “Big Air Bag,” a technology that helps aerial skiers, snowboarders and cyclists to develop complex routines and avoid serious injury while doing so.

Speaking at the last public council meeting, partners in the enterprise pointed out that this innovative technology is new to Canada and would likely draw competitive athletes from across the country – and from other countries – to Orangeville.

“We’re looking to the future,” said Sean Rowe, one of the partners, in an interview. “Canadians are doing a massive push for the (Winter Olympics) podium and this would be the first Big Air Bag to live in Canada.”

While council must wrestle with the task of finding an appropriate area of eight acres, which 365 Sports says would be the ideal size for its facility plans, they were obviously excited about the idea.

“It will add a critical element that will add to the quality of life,” said Mayor Rob Adams. “It’s a progressive industry that is up and coming and feeds into the element of sports and tourism that we are trying to promote in this town.”

While other municipalities have expressed interest in partnering in the project, Mr. Rowe indicated in an interview that Orangeville is the company’s first choice.

He explained that a main attraction of Orangeville is it’s in close proximity to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and the fact, he said, that the major portion of the country’s high-calibre athletes – in the sports specific to the facility’s technology – are within 100 to 150 kilometres of Orangeville.

Now, the task of the town will be where to locate it within the town boundaries and how to work with 365 Sports while still working within the bounds of provincial regulations.

For example, it could be considered profitable for the town to donate land to the enterprise; considering the projection that visiting athletes and coaches would pump millions into the local economy.

Mr. Rowe also pointed out in the interview that 365 intends to be more than an elite training facility and will aim to provide public recreational opportunities.

Unfortunately, such a move would be considered “bonusing,” a practice of municipalities offering fiscal and other incentives to private enterprise. While commonly practised in the United States, it is illegal in Ontario.

There are other approaches, however. Orangeville was legally able to give land to Humber College, for example, because municipalities are allowed to provide such incentives to what are considered public and/or non-profit institutions.

In fact, the Humber College property on Veterans’ Way has been suggested as an advantageous site for the facility. Mr. Rowe said the site would be good because, among other things, “we don’t want to disturb the town and bottleneck local traffic.”

He added that 365 Sports is not looking to have land taken away from the 26 acres of developable land Humber has. Rather, Mr. Rowe suggested a partnership between the two that would give Humber access to the facility and, perhaps, find ways to utilize it to expand the campus curriculum with recreation-related programs.

Humber’s Orangeville campus director, Joe Andrews, said in an interview that “365 has a very intriguing proposal.” He also said he was unable to comment further until the college executive has had time to review the idea and meet with 365 Sports “in a much more thorough fashion.” He said he hopes such a meeting would occur in either late July or in August.

While the “bonusing” laws prohibit the town from virtually giving it away, there are legal grey areas wherein municipalities can enter into working agreements, or partnerships, with private companies.

Prior to the July 19 public meeting, council will be discussing options pertaining to the proposed facility. Since the meeting will involve potential legal issues, the meeting will be in camera and not open to the public.