New Boiler System Keeps Municipal Complex Open in Schreiber

Investments from the Canada Community-Building Fund allowed the Township of Schreiber to act quickly when a core piece of infrastructure required immediate attention. 

The double boiler system that heated the Schreiber municipal complex was several decades old. One boiler was original from 1963 and the second was installed in 1980. Given the age of the boilers, the system was no longer operating efficiently. 

A regular inspection of the boilers in fall of 2022 determined they required immediate replacement and were unsafe to turn on for the upcoming fall and winter season. A staff report indicated that failure of the boiler system was not only a health and safety risk for staff, whose offices are housed in the building, but would also greatly impact the local community.  

The complex is a social gathering place where the Township’s 1,000 residents participate in regular community and recreational activities. Activities offered include yoga, active movement classes, floor curling and pickleball. Seniors also enjoy social coffee time, sewing and cooking classes, and cake decorating, to name a few things. The complex is a hive of activity several days a week, and also hosts larger events like vendor fairs from time to time. 

It was essential to fix the heating system in order to keep the building open and not disrupt the daily and weekly programming and services offered at the facility. Municipal staff developed a plan to keep the complex open and heated while the new system was being installed. 

The Township invested $180,000 from the Canada Community-Building Fund into the installation of two high efficiency propane boilers and a new propane tank to replace the existing fuel oil boilers. The new heating system is keeping everyone safe and warm.