In a press release issued Thursday, Jan. 8 the Town of Fort Frances clarified the ongoing issues with the lifts at the Memorial Sports Centre (MSC).
Per the release, the elevator on the 52 Canadians side has broken down primarily due to age and replacement parts are no longer available.
“Currently the 52 Canadians elevator has broken down due to its age, requiring repairs,” the release said.
“Following an inquiry by Operations and Facilities, it was found that the parts required to fix the elevator are no longer in production. Operations and Facilities are in the process of organizing the replacement of the elevator.”
The elevator in the MSC lobby has been out of commission since October when poor weather and roof construction coincided to disastrous results, once again with aging parts having become hard to obtain, it will be out of commission for the foreseeable future.
“On October 20, 2025, due to contracted work being conducted during inclement weather, the MSC roof above the Ice For Kids (IFK) lift had a severe leak,” the release said.
“The incoming water flooded the lift, causing damage to electrical circuit boards, ceiling tiles, and drywall in the area. This has put the lift out of commission. Operations and Facilities is continuing to monitor the situation and assess the damage.
“Due to the age of the IFK lift, the required circuit boards are no longer available, and a replacement lift is required. A replacement lift has been specified and is in the process of being ordered. Repairs are anticipated to be completed in the next nine to twelve weeks.”
This unfortunately leaves parts of the building inaccessible to members of the public requiring the lift assistance to access the upper floors. Some hockey can be viewed from the ground level of the arena and the staff are doing their best to help those in need as they are able.
“While elevator services are not available, the staff at the MSC are working hard to make accommodations on a case by case basis for those who need them to access areas of the MSC on the second floor,” the town said in the release.
“The MSC staff work diligently every day to serve users, and will continue to do so.”
The Town thanked residents for their patience on the matter in the release and directed any inquiries regarding accommodations at the MSC to contact the MSC. Any questions or concerns about the elevator repairs can be directed to the Town’s Operations and Facilities department. The Town’s online complaint form can be found at fortfrances.ca/complaints-and-requests.
