Skaters break the ice at Rogers Place
Despite controversy, Edmontonians praise opening of community arena
For 15-year-old figure skater Eric Liu, the fresh ice surface at the new Downtown Community Arena meant better flow and balance, and the chance to really hear the edges of his skates.
“That ice felt really good,” said Liu, a five-time-provincial champion and training partner for Olympic silver medallist Kaetlyn Osmond.
But while Liu was the first person to hit the ice when the arena officially opened Sunday afternoon, he wasn’t the only one with favourable reviews.
In fact, there were many reasons to love the new arena expressed at the inaugural ceremony and free public skate. Dozens of Edmontonians sat on the bright blue benches at the community arena, munching free cookies as they listened to dignitaries — from federal infrastructure minister Amarjeet Sohi to MacEwan University president David Atkinson — praise the new facility.
“Many of us thought that this day wouldn’t actually come,” said Chris Buyze, president of the Downtown Edmonton Community League, which lobbied hard for the neighbourhood benefit.
The community arena was “very controversial,” acknowledged councillor Scott McKeen.
Funds to build the rink, attached to the northeast corner of Rogers Place, were hard to come by. In the end, the city put $7 million of its federal gas tax fund toward the construction of the $25 million facility. MacEwan University, whose men’s and women’s Griffins hockey teams call the new arena home ice, contributed $3.5 million for enhancements including locker rooms and extra spectator seating. The rest of the funds are provided by the city’s Downtown Community Revitalization Levy.
The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF), along with the Katz family, contributed $1 million to create a fund for new programs at the arena to serve high-needs residents in the community. The fund will cover a weekly Sunday afternoon skate, including free skates and helmet rentals, for members of the six downtown community leagues, starting at the end of October. Natalie Minckler, EOCF executive director, says other rink programs for neighbourhood youth, designed in collaboration with the community, will be announced by late 2016.
Downtown resident Tracy Hyatt came to the opening so she could check out the free skates, and the new rink’s surface. An ardent fan of ice and snow, she looks forward to having a facility close to home. Hyatt said seeing lots of children and families around the arena gives downtown a different vibe.
“This is the first time, living downtown, that it feels like a neighbourhood to me,” said Hyatt. “You don’t see many places in downtown Edmonton where it feels like a family event.”
Alanca Moses, 10, plays hockey with the Frog Lake T-Birds. She was excited to be at the arena.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for her and she wanted to see how it is in the big arena, and I wanted to fulfil her day,” said her mother, Chassity Moses, juggling a baby in her arms as the family waited in line for skates.
Buyze noted that the arena is a tangible benefit for local residents.
“We notice a lot of immigrants who choose to live in the core, and people of lower income levels, and now they have access to facilities like this, because recently, we’ve only seen them built in the suburbs,” he said. “Skating and hockey are such a big part of our culture.”