Fans bid farewell to Coliseum
Weekend of events at Northlands helps bid farewell to 44-year-old building
On his 27th birthday, Kent Strayer took in the Coliseum for the last time.
“There was always a sense of occasion,” said Strayer, whose memories include watching hockey games, going to concerts and attending YC Alberta, a Christian youth conference. Strayer sat in the lower bowl of the Northlands Coliseum with Shauntae Manders, 27, Saturday morning and basked in the nostalgia of the arena while contemplating its future.
“I was fully on board with Rogers Place, but it’s such a shame (the Coliseum) has to go,” Strayer said.
While the new downtown arena is beautiful, said Manders, “it has more of a corporate feel.”
“It doesn’t have that homey feel,” added Strayer.
Opened in 1974, the Coliseum’s 44-year run comes to an end Jan. 1. While the building’s fate is still uncertain, Northlands decided to hold a weekend of events to let the public say goodbye.
On Friday, the Spruce Grove Saints faced off against the Okotoks Oilers in a charity hockey game, after former Edmonton Oiler Ryan Smyth asked for one last game.
A record-breaking 5,989 people attended the game, raising about $50,000 for 630 CHED Santas Anonymous and the Spruce Grove Kinettes, said Tim Reid, Northlands president and CEO.
Saturday featured a pancake breakfast and hundreds of people taking part in public skating sessions. A multicultural round dance wrapped up the weekend Sunday.
“I’m grateful we could open the doors to the public,” Reid said.
“There’s a lot of moments and stories people are sharing. You realize how significant closing this building will be.”
Former Northlands employee Jeffery Majore, 50, worked at the Coliseum on and off since 1984.
The building has been the setting for many great memories, including meeting his wife and watching the Canadian Finals Rodeo with his dad as a kid.
“Seeing the rodeo end this year was probably one of the hardest things I’ve had to deal with,” said Majore.
“My father passed away 21 years ago. That’s what brought it back. I was here with him for the first few years of coming to rodeo.”
After years of working and watching hockey games at the rink, working the Oilers’ final game at the Coliseum proved tough, too.
“I cried. I couldn’t believe it was over,” said Majore.
Another longtime and current employee, George Waselenchuk, 47, is hopeful for Northland’s future and the building that has seen change many times over the years.
While he’s disappointed it might be torn down, he’ll be happy “as long as the city does something that benefits the community.”
After starting his career as a 15-year-old parking attendant, Waselenchuk went on to hold many positions at Northlands, including 17 to 18 years as an ice maker and Zamboni driver, and his current role as facility manager.
“It’s been amazing to be part of the building,” Waselenchuk said.