Hockey Canada jumps into the fray for Coliseum redevelopment

Hockey Canada has a plan to breathe new life into Northlands Coliseum.  It involves getting kids off screens and getting them active, two aspects of the argument for an exciting hockey academy idea put forward by Tom Renney, president of the Canadian organization.

Renney appeared before Edmonton City Council in mid-April as they debated the future of the former Rexall Centre which Hockey Canada would like to take responsibility for.  He said plans for the facility would help address today’s sedentary lifestyle among Edmontonians.

There have been at least 15 proposals put forward by a variety of groups, each with unique plans for Northland.  Edmonton council members voted during the April 8 meeting and agreed to start working with Hockey Canada in regards to their proposal to create a hockey academy.  After reviewing other ideas put forward, council suggested that Hockey Canada seemed to have an idea more closely aligned with theirs.

The Hockey Canada Plan

As presented, the academy would offer four rinks, an area for dry-land training and a 200-metre running track.  During the day, Hockey Canada would utilize the space and after hours the facilities would be open for community use.  That would include minor hockey organizations, track and field clubs and perhaps the public that would keep the space busy during the evenings and on weekends.

Renney argued that the space afforded by his four addition ice surfaces would help will the need for children from all walks of life, including newcomers, children with disabilities and Indigenous groups. 

During the debate, council member Bev Esslinger pointed out that the plan would certainly be a boon to the Coliseum, but six arenas in the area would be decommissioned.  That would include:

• Coronation
• Oliver
• George S. Hughes,
• Westwood
• Tipton
• Crestwood

These six arenas are in older Edmonton communities but officials stated that these rinks were part of a City strategy to be phased out as they had each reached the end of their life cycles.  Don Iveson, Edmonton mayor, said phasing the rinks out is already part of the city’s strategy.

There are only 21 indoor rinks operated and maintained by the City of Edmonton and the loss of six rinks would mean a hit to users without plans for replacements.

It was also stated during the April 8 meeting that it is far more cost effective from the City’s point of view to maintain and operate ice surfaces contained within a single building than several spread out across the city.

Further, Iveson said that renovations to the Coliseum to provide hockey facilities for community use should not be regarded as an opportunity for the City to make money as amateur sport shouldn’t be regarded as a profit centre.

As part of the discussions going forward, Council and Hockey Canada would have to determine whether the Coliseum can be refurbished or if it needs to be knocked down, and, who would pay for it.

The financial details and designs for the proposed academy will be worked out between the groups.  Just preparing the business case for Hockey Canada’s idea will cost $2.85 million to execute and should take up to two years to put together.  This step also requires council approval and will be debated when they convene in May.

About Hockey Canada

Hockey Canada governs all grassroots aspects of the sport of hockey in Canada.  It collaborates with 13 branches at provincial level, the Canadian Hockey League and the Interuniversity Sport to enhance the sport and to grow hockey in all levels of play.

It also oversees world championship competition including the Olympics.  Hockey Canada represents our country at dealings with the International Ice Hockey Federation.  In Alberta, there’s a Hockey Canada office in Calgary with regional offices in Eastern Canada.