READ
THE
PLANS.
Three things in one place: what is being dug up on your street, where the big projects actually stand, and a search of the Town’s own planning papers. Every fact here links back to the page it came from, in the Town’s words, so you can check it yourself.
The MURF — a new recreation building
A big new building for sports and swimming. Collingwood has been trying to build one for more than twenty years, and has twice had money on the table and walked away from it. In 2004 council turned down a $2.54 million grant and built nothing. It has now bought land. Nothing has been designed or priced yet.
Point at a dot to see what happened that day. On a phone, use the buttons.
Where it stands today
Land stage. In August 2026 council approved buying a 37-acre property at 725 Tenth Line. The sale had not closed, and the price is not public until it does. There is no design, no published cost for the building, no funding plan and no construction.
- Around 2001One person’s account
A former Member of Parliament told the Judicial Inquiry that council had approved a $24 million recreation building at Fisher Field and asked staff to go after government money for it.
$24 million building
Said, not proved. This is what a former Member of Parliament told the Judicial Inquiry in his own closing submission. It is his account. The Inquiry’s own chapter on how the recreation projects were funded does not record it, and the campaign has not been able to check the figure against any federal or provincial grant approval. It is on this page because it was said on the record, by a named person, to a judge — not because anybody has proved it.
Show me where it says that
“Council approved an approximately $24,000,000 (24 million dollar) MURF to be located at Fisher Field in Collingwood.”
Closing submission of Paul Bonwick to the Collingwood Judicial Inquiry, Part 2 (2020)
- 2001One person’s account
In the same submission he said council then cancelled it, and about $9 million in approved federal and provincial grants went back to the governments that had offered it.
about $9 million, by his account
Said, not proved. This is what a former Member of Parliament told the Judicial Inquiry in his own closing submission. It is his account. The Inquiry’s own chapter on how the recreation projects were funded does not record it, and the campaign has not been able to check the figure against any federal or provincial grant approval. It is on this page because it was said on the record, by a named person, to a judge — not because anybody has proved it.
Show me where it says that
“Council then rescinded their approval in 2001 and the grant approvals for approximately $9,000,000 (nine million dollars) were returned to the federal and provincial governments”
Closing submission of Paul Bonwick to the Collingwood Judicial Inquiry, Part 2 (2020)
- 16 October 2003Money approved
Council set out how it thought the building could be paid for: money from selling land, money borrowed, and a grant from the province.
$3.3 million from land sales, $2 million borrowed, $2.54 million from a grant called Super Build
Show me where it says that
“$3.3 million from land sales, $2 million from debt financing, and $2.54 million from a grant program called “Super Build.””
- 22 October 2003A study landed
The Town paid for a study into a big shared recreation building. It was already called a Multiple-Use Recreation Facility — the same idea, under the same name, twenty-three years ago.
Show me where it says that
“Collingwood Multiple-Use Recreation Facility Recreation Needs and Project Feasibility Study”
- 22 October 2003A study landed
That same study said the Centennial Pool was worn out and had to be replaced.
Show me where it says that
“The pool is in poor condition, needs replacement, and lacks appeal to the majority users.”
- 5 February 2004Council decided
A new council voted to apply for the Super Build grant and build the facility beside Fisher Field.
Show me where it says that
“Council voted in favour of pursuing an application to build on Fisher Field.”
- 23 February 2004Council decided
Eighteen days later the same council changed its mind and cancelled it. Collingwood gave up a $2.54 million grant it had already qualified for, and no building was built.
$2.54 million turned down
Show me where it says that
“Less than three weeks later, on February 23, 2004, Council voted to reverse its decision to construct a multi-use facility at Fisher Field, effectively turning down the Super Build grant funding that the Town would otherwise have qualified to receive.”
- January 2008A study landed
Five years later another Town plan noted that the buildings the 2003 study recommended were never built.
Sources disagree. The study's own cover says 22 October 2003; this 2008 plan calls it the 2004 study. Nobody has corrected either.
Show me where it says that
“The Town completed an in-depth feasibility study for major indoor facilities in 2004”
Leisure Services Master Plan, Town of Collingwood (in the Judicial Inquiry's public archive)
- 27 August 2012Staff suggested
Council looked at building a new pool and a new ice pad together, and worried about what it would cost.
$35 million
Show me where it says that
“Concern with $35 million cost”
- 2019A study landed
The Town's own parks plan said Collingwood needed more room for recreation and should build a new building that does several things at once.
Show me where it says that
“a need for additional recreation capacity and recommended the development of a new multi-use recreational facility”
MURFA Feasibility Report and Next Steps (CS.25.046), Town of The Blue Mountains
- 31 July 2023Council decided
Council told staff to work with the next-door town, The Blue Mountains, on studying one shared building instead of two.
Show me where it says that
“direction was given to collaborate with staff from the Town of The Blue Mountains”
Joint Multi-Use Recreation Feasibility Assessment, Town of The Blue Mountains
- 28 August 2023Money approved
The two towns agreed to split the cost of the study.
$100,000 from each town — $200,000 in total
Show me where it says that
“Through this agreement, each municipality would contribute $100,000 to the study budget for a total of $200,000.”
Joint Multi-Use Recreation Feasibility Assessment, Town of The Blue Mountains
- August and September 2024People were asked
The towns asked people what they wanted. Out of 3,370 answers, people chose one building that does many things over separate buildings by about five to one.
Show me where it says that
“5:1 ratio preference for multi-use over single-use facility.”
MURFA presentation to a joint council meeting, 30 October 2024
- 16 July 2025A study landed
The finished study went to both councils. It said the two towns should work together on one building with a library in it. No vote was taken to build anything.
Show me where it says that
“This report recommends proceeding to the next step by committing to working as partners towards a new joint multi-use recreation and library facility”
- 6 October 2025Council decided
Council told staff to go and find a piece of land in or beside Collingwood, score each one against a checklist, and report back by the end of November.
up to $10,000 for a realtor and other help
Sources disagree. The Town's engagement page dates this 6 October 2025. The Blue Mountains' staff report dates the same Collingwood resolution 16 September 2025. Both are public; neither has been corrected.
Show me where it says that
“AND THAT Council authorize the spending of up to $10,000 from the MURF Reserve”
Joint Multi-Use Recreation Feasibility Assessment (MURFA), Town of Collingwood
- 20 October 2025Land
The Town publicly asked anyone with land to offer it, looking for about 20 acres for the recreation building.
Show me where it says that
“We are seeking your assistance to identify potential sites for these projects!”
Expression of Interest: Land Acquisition for Community Spaces, Town of Collingwood
- 1 December 2025Council decided
After its committee voted to go it alone, The Blue Mountains' full council changed course and voted to partner with Collingwood after all.
Show me where it says that
“Following discussion, Council moved and voted in favour of a motion to pursue a partnership approach.”
Joint Multi-Use Recreation Feasibility Assessment, Town of The Blue Mountains
- 8 December 2025Council decided
Staff told council about possible pieces of land behind closed doors, and council told them to keep looking into it.
Show me where it says that
“Council provided direction to staff on further investigation into site options for the MURF.”
Joint Multi-Use Recreation Feasibility Assessment (MURFA), Town of Collingwood
- 30 March 2026Money approved
Council told staff to keep studying the land and approved more money for soil and environment testing. Staff said they would come back in the spring with a final answer.
up to $15,000 more
Show me where it says that
“authorized the spending of up to fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) from the MURF reserve to access environmental studies”
Joint Multi-Use Recreation Feasibility Assessment (MURFA), Town of Collingwood
- 10 August 2026Land
Council passed a by-law to buy a 37-acre property at 725 Tenth Line for the recreation building. The price stays secret until the sale is finished, which the Town expects by the end of 2026.
price not public
Show me where it says that
“The purchase price cannot be disclosed until the transaction is complete.”
Joint Multi-Use Recreation Feasibility Assessment (MURFA), Town of Collingwood
What nobody has published yet
- What the land at 725 Tenth Line cost. The Town says it will publish the price once the sale closes.
- Whether the sale has closed. No notice had been published as of 18 October 2026.
- What the building will cost. No estimate for Collingwood exists. The study only compares other towns' buildings, which ran from under $30 million to well over $100 million — those are other people's buildings, not a price for this one.
- What will be in it. The Town's own page says the amenities have not been settled.
- When anybody would start building. No architect, no drawing, no tender, no date.
- Whether the roughly $9 million from around 2001 was ever actually approved. The account above is on the record, under a name, to a judge. The grant approval itself is not public, the Inquiry’s own funding chapter does not mention it, and neither government has published a record of it. Somebody should go and find it.
- Where the $3 million MURF reserve came from, line by line. It is reported to be money from selling Town assets rather than any grant, and the Town has not published a breakdown.
Researched from the Town’s own pages and council material on 18 October 2026. Every quote is copied word for word and links to where it is written. This is my campaign’s page, not a Town of Collingwood product, and the record is still moving — check the links before relying on anything here. If I have something wrong, tell me and I will fix it and say that I did.