Meadow Lake shared more details about construction of a new recreation complex they hope will be partially open for the 2024 hockey season (Staff photo/battlefordsNOW.com).

By Ian Roach

NEW RECREATION COMPLEX

Meadow Lake shares details of new multi-use facility

Oct 7, 2022 | 2:59 PM

The city of Meadow Lake is sharing more details about a new recreation and civic centre that they hope will have a new ice surface ready for use for the start of the 2024 hockey season.

On Thursday, the province announced over 37 million dollars in combined funding for a new recreation complex. The 123,054 square foot recreational facility will be a cultural and community gathering centre and will include a full NHL-sized ice surface. It will also include a pleasure skating rink, and a fieldhouse with concession stands. An event hall will also be available to host community gatherings such as weddings, funerals, charitable fundraisers, and other community events

A conceptual drawing of the exterior of a new recreation complex for Meadow Lake (Submitted drawing/City of Meadow Lake).

The funding is welcome news for a community that has been without an ice surface for over a year. The only arena in Meadow Lake burned down in June 2021 under suspicious circumstances. When contacted Friday, RCMP confirmed the fire is still under investigation.

The city hopes to break ground for the new facility in the summer of 2023 with the hope to have the ice surface ready for use for the 2024 hockey season. Construction on other parts of the facility may take longer.

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MLA for Meadow Lake Jeremy Harrison said the new facility will serve the community and beyond.

“This is going to be a generational project for the city of Meadow Lake, and the region as well. Not just the city. But there are a ton of people that will utilize this facility. From Meadow Lake, from the R.M., from northern Saskatchewan, for generations to come into the future.”

Meadow Lake Mayor Merlin Seymour said the new facility would be significant for Meadow Lake.

“It means a world of everything. From finally having a rink back in our community for everyone. From an event centre to a field house, where we can attract different sporting events like provincial volleyball.”

Both Seymour and Harrison say a facility like this will make it possible for the city to host larger gatherings including conventions.

Mayor Seymour has fond memories of the old rink that served Meadow Lake for close to 50 years, adding he hopes the new one will mean the same for the community.

Funding for the facility is coming from three levels of government. The federal government has committed $14,932,023 and the province will contribute $12,442,108. Meadow Lake is adding $9,955,926. Meadow Lake’s portion should be largely covered using insurance money from the 2021 fire.