Ottawa contributes $7.5M to Dakota Community Centre’s new arena project

Leadership behind a south Winnipeg community centre hope $7.5 million federal investment will bring other levels of government to the table, as they prepare to build a new arena and rink.

Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid announced the funding Monday, saying his government is throwing its weight behind a plan to expand facilities at the Dakota Community Centre.

“It’s the beating heart of our community here in southeast Winnipeg, and so my wish is for the other levels of government to get on board and work with us to really build something for the next generation,” Duguid said.

The funding will go toward a planned expansion that includes a fully accessible arena with dressing rooms, a new rink and a modern fitness area and ice plant. It will also feature a new front entrance and lobby, a food services facility and a child-care centre.

In total, the development could cost up to $50 million to complete and measure up to 60,000 square feet, said community centre president and CEO Michele Augert.

“It’s a lot of money, but we aren’t asking one group to take on one big chunk of it. We’re all going to come together and do our part,” Augert said.

“These spaces are more important then ever.… In building these strong communities, you need these amazing facilities that support all of the community connections and health and wellness activities.”

“If you look into other provinces, modernized multiplex facilities are really the way of the future. It is more efficient to run operationally.”

Augert said the centre hopes to come up with about $40 million through partnerships with the municipal and provincial governments, and through a capital campaign that will launch in the near future.

The facility operates as a business, so it will be able to assume some associated debt and repay it over time, she added.

Discussions are ongoing with the other levels of government to shore up support. No city councillors or MLAs were present during Monday’s announcement, but Augert said her group has presented the idea to both.

The federal funding will finance the first phase of project, which involves drafting structural designs, preparing the site for development and conducting public consultations, Augert said.

That work should be completed within about two years. If everything falls into place, the new arena could open around the end of 2028, she said.

Design plans have not been finalized, but the arena would likely sit on the east side of the building and could involve demolishing a gymnasium with structural issues that have caused the floor to heave.

A portion of the original community centre building may also be replaced. The board discussed renovating that area, but found it contains asbestos, Augert said.

“If you look into other provinces, modernized multiplex facilities are really the way of the future. It is more efficient to run operationally,” she said.

“It’s the right investment to be making now. in the community centre world, we do a very good job of making things last as long as we possibly can, but most of this stuff is at the end of its useful life.”

The community centre hopes to remain fully operational while construction is ongoing, which may require expanding nearby parking to limit program disruptions, Augert said.

Facility leaders have talked about building another arena for as long as two decades, and previously approached the federal government with the idea around 2015. The plan was sidelined in favour of constructing a 60,000 sq. ft. field house, which opened in 2017, Augert said.

That project cost $20.5 million, with roughly $14 million in government contributions split between the city and province.

The community centre saw success with a capital campaign at the time, and found further support from NHL superstar Jonathan — now a member of the Winnipeg Jets — who donated $1 million. Toews played hockey at the centre in his youth and a sportsplex there is named in his honour.

The centre was incorporated in 1987 and began with a small rink and shed used as a change room. It now boast more than 200,000 sq. ft. in facility space across multiple buildings, and hosts thousands of people each week, Augert said.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca