New chiller coming to St. Vital Arena

St. Vital

The City of Winnipeg renewed its management agreement with the St. Vital Minor Hockey Association (SVMHA) for the St. Vital Centennial Arena for another five years, as of Aug. 1.

“I am proud to have championed this arena during my years on city council, and surpassing $1 million in upgrades is a significant achievement,” Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) said in a statement. “This rink has served St. Vital families for over 50 years, and it will be here for many more years, and many more families.”

The city also recently announced plans to install a new chiller at the arena, at an estimated cost of $170,000, bringing the total city investment in upgrades to the rink to over $1 million since 2014.

Investments the city has contributed since 2014 include: a new zamboni in 2015 ($120,000), improved lobby and dressing room heat and ventilation in 2018 ($216,000), a new motor control centre ($100,000), ice control ($30,000) and condenser ($165,000) in 2022, among others. In 2023, the rink was closed briefly to undergo mould remediation, at a cost of $110,000.

The SMVHA has been managing the rink, which is located at 580 St. Anne’s Rd., since 2005. Along with daily bookings for the SMVHA, the arena is home to the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League’s St. Vital Junior Victorias. The SMVHA also rents ice to the adult rec Dakota Hockey League, as well as private icetimes. The rink is a hub of activity when the ice is in, between the end of August and into May, while the space is also used through the summer months, playing host to the St. Vital Agriculture Society’s annual fair in early August, among many other users.

“We take our commitment to this arena very seriously and we have reinvested, back into this arena, any time we have been able,” Daryl Capstick, president of St Vital Minor Hockey Association, added. “ This summer alone, in anticipation of the extension, we have completely repainted and cleaned the interior and have committed to replacing a faulty furnace. Coun. Mayes has been a huge supporter and we thank him and the City of Winnipeg staff for their partnership.”