Former Ottawa Senators owner Bruce Firestone leading $20M Orleans sports facility development

Bruce Firestone
Bruce Firestone

Gymnasts from across the globe will soon have a new place to tumble in Ottawa after veteran developer Bruce Firestone announced a $20-million-plus development for a new sports facility in Orleans.

Douglas Cardinal, the architect behind the Canadian Museum of History, is also on-board to design the building, the anchor tenant of which will be Orleans’ Tumblers Gymnastics. A news release says the community facility, to be built on Mer Bleue Road, will play host to international gymnastics events as well as provide Canadian athletes with a fresh training ground.

Mr. Firestone is no stranger to expensive developments. The former Senators owner secured the construction of the Canadian Tire Centre – then called the Palladium – in the 1990s, a necessary condition for bringing an NHL team to the city.

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Black Sheep Developments has been tapped for the new project, which the release states will occur over multiple stages. The developers say the building will feature a low-energy design with a minimal carbon footprint.

“I couldn’t be more proud that our team is bringing an international facility to Orleans. The economic impact for our community will be substantial. The building will be a celebration of achievement and a hub for businesses and for families, and for us it’s just the first phase,” said Black Sheep’s Brian Dagenais in a statement.

The idea for the facility first came from the parents with children enrolled at Tumblers Gymnastics. According to the release, the organization has outgrown its current home at 330 Vantage Dr.

“As a parent of two competitive gymnasts at Tumblers Gymnastics, I saw the need for a new building. Together with other parents we saw an incredible opportunity to create a beautiful space for our athletes, so we formed Black Sheep Developments and started to dream big,” Black Sheep’s lawyer Anne-Marie Magneron said in a statement.

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