City applies for permanent liquor licence at Bondar Pavilion

The City of Sault Ste. Marie has applied for a permanent liquor licence for the Roberta Bondar Pavilion, but a city manager says there are no plans to offer a permanent serving station there.

Many past events, including concerts and weddings, have been able to serve liquor at the pavilion through an event permit. If the permanent permit is approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the ability to serve alcohol will be included as an option with the venue rental.

The city has a similar licence at the new Downtown Plaza, said Brent Lamming, director of Community Services. Unlike at the Downtown Plaza, there is no permanent serving station planned for the Bondar Pavilion.

"The Roberta Bondar Pavilion is being licenced permanently to allow increased flexibility to host events that request alcohol instead of requesting permits each time a request comes forward," he said on Friday.

Looking at data since 2017, a total of 68 events were held at the pavilion last year, with a peak number of 96 events organized in 2019.

Lamming said if the permit is approved it will not have an immediate effect on pricing for people or organizations looking to rent the venue.

The deadline to offer objections to the application is May 9 through the AGCO web site.