New Saint John multiplex to include two rink surfaces

New Saint John multiplex to include two rink surfaces

Federal and municipal governments commit nearly $50 million for new recreational facility

On a hot summer day, Ava Harrison’s mind is drawn to the ice cold hockey rink. The 11-year-old Grand Bay-Westfield resident is going into her seventh season playing hockey, and is keeping her skills sharp with hockey camps this summer.

Younger sister, Aubree, is going into her fourth season playing, while their father Jason helps coach their teams. It’s a family sport that has them traveling throughout the season.

“It's something to look forward to,” Ava Harison said, especially when there is a weekend game. “And it's also fun to hang out with your friends too.”

Harrison’s mother, Heather Stackhouse, said they get to see a lot of state-of-the-art facilities in their travels, which is something the port city has been missing.

But this week, the federal government announced an investment of up to $29.8 million, and a municipal contribution of $20 million for the construction of the new Saint John Multipurpose Recreational Facility.

The new facility will include two ice surfaces, a library, and a dedicated space for community support services. The building will connect to the existing Irving Oil Field House, which is already home to two indoor turf fields, a track, fitness centre, and badminton courts.

Stackhouse said she’s excited about the opportunities a centre like this can bring to the community.

“We go all over the Maritimes to all the different rinks, and we see all these beautiful new facilities and they're so fun to play in and to go to events at,” she said.

“So we're really excited to have a rink at home that we can be proud of and hopefully host some events and continue to see the growth in female hockey.”

Stackhouse said existing rinks in the city are well-used and ice-time can be a challenge. She hopes the addition will make the city more competitive with other cities for hosting tournaments and events.

Irving Oil Fieldhouse board chair Bill MacMackin said the new ice surfaces are long overdue. While other nearby communities have gotten new indoor ice facilities, he said Saint Johners have been using aging infrastructure for years.

“There hasn't been a new rink built in Saint John in really over 37 years… And that was when Harbour Station was built,” he said.

“The bulk of the arenas that we use are over 50 years old. They're well past their useful life. They're out of date. They don't meet today's standards. So it was definitely time for the municipality to turn its attention to this,” he said.

In January, the Town of Rothesay announced a new $36-million recreation and community centre, featuring a walking track, pickleball courts and ice rink.

A similar facility opened last year in neighbouring Hampton with the Summit Centre, while the qplex opened in nearby Quispamsis in 2011.

MacMackin said this type of facility is “really what's been needed in the core city area” where it’s accessible along the bus route, with nearby shopping and hotels.

He said the new facility will fill the community needs for hockey, speed skating, figure skating, and for anyone simply wanting to learn to skate. But having all of the amenities coming together under one roof is significant.

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“Truly bringing it all together with the recreation and fitness assets that are there at the field house now, with the new rinks, additional multi-purpose space, the library and the childcare, it's a really comprehensive package that provides a really unique hub.”

It’s the kind of hub that Harrison said she’ll be proud to show off at future tournaments in the city. She plans to stick with her hockey throughout her schooling, and hopes to get many years out of the new centre.

Construction on the new facility is expected to start next year, with a completion date sometime in 2029.

Allyson McCormack is a producer with CBC New Brunswick, based in Fredericton. She has been with CBC News since 2008.