‘This is a powerful moment’: Meadow Lake celebrates Co-op Centre ribbon-cutting

“This is one of the proudest days I’ve had in public life. It really is because this is going to make an immense difference for the generations that come after us,” said Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison.

Dale Sheppard (top left), Merlin Seymour (top right), Chief Tyson Bear (bottom left), Jeremy Harrison (bottom right) and Buckley Belanger (right) all speaking during the opening ceremonies. (Austin Mattes/BattlefordsNOW staff)

For Harrison, the day was also deeply personal.

“I grew up basically in the old arena here and there’s a lot of folks here who could say the same thing. Whether you were bringing your kids here or you grew up playing hockey here, there are a lot of us that really spent our youth in the building. It shapes your character, it shapes who you are, it shapes your community. This was the meeting place, this is where everybody came together. I am extremely hopeful that this is going to be playing that same role for kids,” he said.

Outside shots of the Co-op Centre. (Austin Mattes/BattlefordsNOW staff)

Flying Dust First Nation Chief Tyson Bear added to Harrison, expressing the immeasurable value the new facility will create.

“The investment here is crumbs…$50 million…just think of the future…the kids that you’re building, the opportunities, the leaders, the teams, the good citizens, the community, what is that worth? That’s priceless,” Bear said.

Main lobby entrance of the Co-op Centre (Austin Mattes/BattlefordsNOW staff).

Chief Bear also emphasized the facility’s potential to drive regional and economic growth.

“We have more opportunities now. People will come here for tournaments and events. Meadow Lake and the surrounding areas will all gather here. It’s going to be good growth for the community and the surrounding area,” Bear added.

Top view of the Moeller Hometown arena in the Co-op Centre. (Austin Mattes/BattlefordsNOW staff)

Ice level view of the Moeller Hometown arena in the Co-op Centre (Austin Mattes/BattlefordsNOW staff).

The Meadow Lake Co-op Centre is already booked to host the 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games and is expected to attract everything from high school graduations and cultural celebrations to concerts, trade shows, and conventions.

Reeve for the RM of Meadow Lake Dale Sheppard highlighted the facility’s broad appeal.

“The Co-op Centre will quickly become a central hub for both regional and provincial events. It opens the doors for exciting future opportunities and will enrich our culture for years to come,” Sheppard said.

The fieldhouse in the Co-op Centre featuring basketball courts, a track, and pickleball courts (Austin Mattes/BattlefordsNOW staff).

MP for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, Buckley Belanger echoed those sentiments, tying the project to a national vision.

“The federal government is focused on growing and building a brighter future for all Canadians and as our population continues to grow, it is more important than ever to ensure that we build the right infrastructure now to build a better future for all. It’s all about growing better, growing smarter and developing and creating viable communities,” Belanger said.

The event centre in the Co-op Centre. (Austin Mattes/BattlefordsNOW Staff)

Meadow Lake Mayor Merlin Seymour closed the opening ceremony by celebrating the collaboration that made the facility a reality.

“The Co-op Centre is proof of what we can achieve when we work together. A project of this scale is impossible without true partnerships. Looking out at all of you today and standing in front of this amazing facility is a powerful moment,” he said.

In addition to the ribbon-cutting, there was also a nod to the future as city officials sealed away a 30-pound time capsule, filled with messages, photos, and mementos from 2025. Designed to be opened in 2075, its precise location remains a secret, only marked by a commemorative plaque in new council chambers.

The new Meadow Lake council chambers in the Co-op Centre. (Austin Mattes/BattlefordsNOW staff)

The time capsule will hold a mix of sentimental and everyday items: Class of 2025 graduation photos from Carpenter High School, pictures of the Co-op Centre’s construction crew, student art, handwritten stories, flyers showing what things cost, and commemorative pins and coins.

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Austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes

by Austin Mattes

‘This is a powerful moment’: Meadow Lake celebrates Co-op Centre ribbon-cutting

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