Renovations of Plainsmen Arena Not Affected by Asbestos

(Alberta, Canada - February 4, 2011) Director of Community Services in Canada said that asbestos will not be a cause of delay for the renovations of the Plainsmen Arena in Airdrie.

Director Michelle Lock claimed in an interview that despite finding asbestos in the arena on January 10 of this year, the renovation of the ice skating rink will still continue amid concerns over asbestos exposure. She said that renovation phase one or two is set to be completed by fall of this year.

The indoor rink, which was founded in 1997, is one of the main attractions in Airdrie, offering various skating exercises like figure skating and ice hockey. Early this year, a substantial amount of asbestos was found during a hazardous materials assessment in the arena. Asbestos is a naturally occurring substance that was commonly used in construction and manufacturing materials throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) imposed a regulation against the use of these carcinogens in the United States in the late 1980s after several studies showed that this mineral can cause fatal diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. According to the federal agency, asbestos is most dangerous when disturbed or destroyed. These fibers can fester in the lungs over decades and eventually cause pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of asbestos-related cancer, which directly affects the protective lining of the lungs.

Given these underlying aspects, officials of Community Services said they will try not to disturb these carcinogens to prevent major health risks to the public. However, containing and disposing of these hazardous materials are currently being investigated to avoid its impact on the project cost. The renovation will include the construction of new changing rooms, an ice plant and a new arena floor. Moreover, the company also plans to add a multi-purpose hall in the area where the old lobby and changing rooms used to be.