The ground has been broken for the new arena in Assiniboia and construction remains on track for the July 2022 opening date. 

Assiniboia Mayor Sharon Schauenberg provided an update, saying crews are on-site working to make the complex a reality. The new arena will be located north of the Prince of Wales Cultural & Recreation Centre.

There are over 370 pilings being installed right now. They are expecting to have the shell of the facility completed at the end of the month and have it installed by the end of November. 

The project costs $15.7 million with $11.5 million coming from federal and provincial funding, while the Assiniboia Civic Improvement Association raised the additional $4.2 million through fundraisers such as the Spring Fever Lottery. 

“These guys have been going on this for 10 years now, so it's been a dream of theirs to create a new facility for this community. It's going to be state-of-the-art. We've got a great construction crew working on it,” Schauenberg said. 

The new complex will have a rink, walking track, teen centre, and a pickleball court-sized gymnasium. 

The outside of the rink will have a large video screen which the town is hoping to use for a tailgate party in 2022 as long as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Schauenberg even hopes that Saskatchewan Roughrider game viewing parties could be hosted outside of the complex. 

While there is a lot of excitement over the new arena, it means that there is only one more hockey season left in the old Civic Centre arena. 

Schauenberg said there are many memories that will be going with the old rink when it is demolished. 

“It is a part of our history. So yeah, I think there is going to be some tears shed,” she added.