Upgrades at the St Vital Arena
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/03/2022 (450 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The St Vital Arena recently “celebrated” its 50th anniversary, though unfortunately COVID-19 was in full swing and no formal celebration could be held.
This arena is in better shape than many of the city’s indoor arenas, and the St. Vital Minor Hockey Association deserves credit for its management of the facility for many years. Though I can barely skate and never actually played hockey at the arena, I am proud of the financial support I have worked to get for St. Vital Arena.
The most recent project is a $180,000 condensing unit which will be installed sometime later this year (subject to supply chain issues), replacing the aged condensing unit now in place. The condensing unit is a major component of ice making equipment. Funding for this project comes from the City of Winnipeg, but I want to thank Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid who worked with me last summer in the hopes of getting federal funding — without those efforts I don’t think city staff would have endorsed the plan.
Earlier this year, the city provided about $30,000 to update internal ice-making controls at the arena. This project uses infrared sensing for energy efficiency and to reduce the risk of losing ice due to equipment failure. The city should be looking at energy efficiency work in all of its aging fleet of arenas (I am working on this). In 2020 I was pleased to approve $20,000 from my ward’s land dedication funds to help with exterior upgrades at the arena, with provincial funding help from Riel MLA Rochelle Squires.
Prior to this term of office, in 2018 I was able to announce completion of about $400,000 in city upgrades to the arena, which included a new ice-surfacing machine, change-room upgrades, and heating/ventilation work. My council colleague Scott Gillingham, who plays rec league hockey, advised me that the showers no longer provided “scalding hot water only” after these renovations — it’s nice to get positive feedback from fellow councillors.
The parking lot is a pot-hole filled problem, and I continue to look for solutions that will not cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, which was the cost estimate provided by city staff.
The arena remains a great resource for families, for the St. Vital Vics, for Glenlawn Collegiate hockey and for many others. It may not last another 50 years but the recent renovations should ensure its operations for many years to come.
Brian Mayes
St. Vital ward report
Brian Mayes is the city councillor for St. Vital.