Sioux Lookout council hits pause button on Hudson community/recreational facilities

Sioux Lookout is considering a services board to help determine the future of recreation, leisure, and community events in Hudson.

In doing so, town council is pausing with plans to demolish Hudson Hall and Lost Lake Drop-in Centre, and renovate a portion of the fire hall for recreational space.

Chief Administrative Officer Brian McKinnon says decisions on those projects will be left to the board.

“The idea is that with the establishment, if there’s interest of the municipal services board, some of those decisions, recommendations would come from the services board to council to inform what those next steps could be,” says McKinnon.

McKinnon says with council’s approval, they will consult with the residents of Hudson in February or March.

If there is interest, the town would begin establishing the bylaws and regulations necessary for council to consider in either March or April.

McKinnon says if the services board is in place by the spring or early summer, it would still provide time for it to review facilities and make recommendations to council.

Councillor Reece Van Breda supports the board but not the idea of pausing the projects.

“Residents of Hudson need clarity on the future of the hall and in the Lost Lake Centre,” says Van Breda.

“And it needs to be this council to make the decision not to kick the can down the road even more.”

The town has been looking at the future of the three buildings for the past 3 1/2 years.

A new community centre to replace the drop-in centre and hall was considered in August 2024, but funding could not be found to proceed.