Canadel donates building to town
Jeff Linville -- Furniture Today, November 10, 2003
Louiseville, Quebec — Casual dining producer Canadel Furniture has constructed and donated a 26,500-square-foot multipurpose building to its home town.
The manufacturer easily is Louiseville's largest employer, with 1,350 workers in this town of about 8,200 people, said Jean Deveault, sales coordinator.
"For a few years, we've been looking for a project that we can do for the community," he said. "This building can accommodate any type of activity all year long. We can fit close to 5,000 people inside. We will have shows there, ice skate during wintertime, exhibits, et cetera."
The steel structure has retractable sides that can be opened for a picnic shelter look, or closed when heat is needed. The building, called Place Canadel, was opened officially just before the October High Point market, during the annual Festival de la Galette de Louiseville.
The floor, made of finely ground gravel, will be covered with a few inches of water to create the skating rink. The roof will keep snow off the ice, allowing use of the rink until warmer weather.
Canadel initially estimated the building would cost about C$800,000, but worked with suppliers to purchase materials at a discount, saving about C$100,000, Deveault said.
"We have given this building to the population of Louiseville, totally free," he said, with ownership transferred to the city. Under Canadian law, he noted, Canadel gets no tax write-off for the donation.
