The Town of Nipawin held a grand opening for the newly completed dressing room renovations at the Jubilee and Centennial Arena Complex.
The town believes this new addition will benefit residents and visitors utilizing the facility.
Nipawin Mayor Marlon Zacharias said the project is much more than just upgrading community infrastructure—it breathes life back into a recreational facility at the heart of Nipawin.
“By tackling this renovation, the Town of Nipawin is able to continue offering programs at the Centennial and Jubilee Arena Complex without any disruption caused by inadequate dressing room space,” Zacharias said in a release.
“This is a meaningful investment in the wellbeing of our residents and will serve every visitor to our community arenas.”
The Town of Nipawin Arena Complex is a hub of activity throughout most of the year, with two arenas: the Jubilee and the Centennial, which is better known as “The Cage.” It is a place where residents and visitors can stay physically active during the very cold Saskatchewan winter months.
The town said that it is essential to provide a safe and convenient facility for patrons to use.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, 2020, the eight dressing rooms and three shower spaces in the Centennial Arena were shared with the Jubilee Arena.
Each room was too small to hold a hockey team or allow players to socially distance. Thanks to funding through ICIP, the Jubilee Arena is now able to safely accommodate both players and spectators. A large lobby area with washroom facilities and four spacious dressing rooms are now part of the facility and each dressing room has its own shower and washroom space.
Because the Jubilee Arena and the Centennial Arena have separate and dedicated dressing rooms, the Town is able to safely operate both ice surfaces at once.
“Recreational facilities play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of a community. The federal government is proud to support the upgrades of the Jubilee Arena, creating a safe and inclusive space for various recreational activities,” Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, said in a release.
“The enhanced arena will provide a dynamic and vibrant environment, fostering community gatherings and cherished memories for years to come.”
“The local arena is often a central gathering place within a Saskatchewan community,” Fred Bradshaw, outgoing MLA for Carrot River Valley said in a release.
“Investing in projects like this one supports critical community assets while providing a better experience for everyone who uses the arena and highlights our government’s commitment to improving and growing Saskatchewan.”
Construction on the permanent dressing rooms in the Jubilee Arena began on April 4, 2022. Led by a local company, A.C.S. Contracting Ltd., the work was completed with the opening of the dressing rooms on October 16, 2023.
The Government of Canada invested $669,411 through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to support upgrades to the two arenas.
The Government of Saskatchewan contributed $557,787. Nipawin invested $446,330 and is responsible for covering any additional costs, providing the remaining funding to complete the Jubilee Arena dressing room addition.
