Feasibility study planned for arena on former Kapyong Barracks site

A First Nations development group is hoping to pull in prospective sports teams with plans to build an arena in south Winnipeg.

The Treaty One Development Corp. is exploring the feasibility of a 6,000-person arena in Naawi-Oodena, the former Kapyong Barracks site, on the southeast side at Taylor Avenue and Kenaston Boulevard.

The hope is to give aspiring athletes a large space to practice, and possibly even bring a junior or professional sports team to Winnipeg, said chief development officer Cody Mercer, who listed the Western Hockey League or National Lacrosse League as examples.

“Not just working for Treaty One, but also in our membership of the seven communities, there’s a ton of athletes, and really we see that when they’re getting to that higher level of hockey or anything like that, they’re having to move away,” he said. “We thought this is an idea that we can try to bring (in) a team.”

Treaty One is partnering with the city on a feasibility study.

The city is covering $95,000 of the planned $128,000 study, funded through land dedication reserve funding from the River Heights-Fort Garry ward and the Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry ward. The rest is being funded by Treaty One Development Corp.

“I saw an opportunity, because we’re in quite desperate need, and (it’s) a great partnership opportunity to work with Treaty One to see if we can help facilitate the creation of community rinks,” said River Heights-Fort Garry Coun. John Orlikow.

The city is only helping to fund the study for now. Orlikow said the city would be unable to offer funding for a large-scale arena because True North Sports and Entertainment currently holds a non-compete clause that limits the size and type of arenas that can be built.

“Two community rinks, even three, would be fine,” Orlikow said.

The Free Press has reached out to True North for comment.

But Mercer said with the prospective arena being built on an urban reserve, there is a separate permit system, and building a large rink may still be possible.

The feasibility study will make that clear, and if a 6,000-seat rink isn’t possible, Treaty One plans to build as large of a space as they can, Mercer said.

“It really gives that pride to our membership that we’re owning an arena, we’re operating an arena, and, really, showing how First Nations were cut out of the economy for so long — but we’re here now, and we’re pushing to be a part — and a big part — of it.”

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca