A brand-new terminal building at the Gore Bay – Manitoulin Airport marked its official opening Sept. 27.
Located in the Town of Gore Bay on the west end of Manitoulin Island, the facility was completed and put into use in 2024, but just celebrated its grand opening this year.
Designed by EXP Engineering and built by Lignum Builders of Espanola, the modern and spacious building comes in at a little under 5,000 square feet, with a palette of earth tones and lots of windows to let in natural light.
Amenities include an open lounge providing broad, airside views; an accessible, barrier-free washroom; a meeting and events room; and a large kitchen designed to prepare meals for local events.
There's also a pilot fatigue management centre, which is outfitted with a single bed, two reclining chairs, and a full bathroom with a shower, as well as a pilot's lounge with multiple seating options and light concessions.
The new terminal additionally has upgraded office space set aside for the Canada Border Services Agency.
It's a big upgrade from the original terminal, which was built in 1947 and had a bomb shelter in its basement. It was demolished in 2024 as the new terminal was nearing completion.
Construction of a new terminal is one component of a broader $4.2-million airport redevelopment project that's been a decade in the making.
Additional upgrades as part of the initiative include widening and lengthening the secondary runway, adding a helipad, and upgrading electrical components to improve airfield lighting.
These upgrades qualify the airport to serve as an emergency crisis management centre in the case of a large-scale disaster.
Funding for the project includes $3,966,497 from the federal and provincial governments, $282,473 from the communities of Gore Bay, Gordon/Barrie Island, and Burpee and Mills, and additional contributions.