Wasaga Beach prepares for grand unveiling of the new twin-pad arena and library
Wasaga Beach is on the brink of unveiling its much-anticipated twin pad arena and library to serve the town's rapid population growth.
"We've seen our numbers quadruple over the years, and we believe another 10,000 to 15,000 over the next 10 years, and I think it will exceed that as well," said Mayor Brian Smith.
- Download the CTV News app free to get local news alerts
- Don't miss breaking news - Sign up for the CTV Newsletter
The twin pad arena will have two Olympic-sized ice rinks, meeting rooms, a walking track, a small gymnasium, and a 20,000-square-foot public library, complete with a children's area, gaming zone, study rooms, a learning lab and a digital lab.
The Town took possession of the building on Saturday, and the finishing touches are now in the works on the facility.
"We’ve started to build the ice. We were very keen to get that organized. Furniture, fixtures and equipment takes a little bit of time. We have to become operational, customer service staff, we’re onboarding a number of staff so that we’re ready for the opening," noted Chris Roos, Town of Wasaga Beach.The twin-pad arena and library in Wasaga Beach, Ont., on Thurs., Nov. 23, 2023. (CTV News/Molly Frommer)
The grand opening will be marked by a festival, 'Breaking The Ice: A Celebration of Legends, Icons, and 50 Years of Sunshine."
"We plan to do that all on the Family Day weekend with 10 days of celebration, including the grand opening of the Wasaga Stars Arena and the Wasaga Beach Public Library. The Town of Wasaga Beach is very proud to announce that we’re going to have two of our main acts that weekend will be Canadian icons, the great Burton Cummings and the great Blue Rodeo," concluded the mayor.
Burton Cummings is scheduled to take the stage on February 17, followed by Blue Rodeo on February 18.
Tickets for both concerts can be purchased online, and officials say the facility is set to open to the public sometime in the new year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Liberal leadership: Freeland to announce bid within the next week
Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland will announce her intention to run for the Liberal party leadership just before the U.S. presidential inauguration, a source close to her campaign team says.
Icelandic discount carrier Play Airlines pulls out of Canada, leaving customers in dark
Play Airlines is pulling out of Canada less than two years after entering the market.
A B.C. man won a $2M jackpot. Members of his workplace lotto pool took him to court.
A dispute over a $2 million jackpot among members of a workplace lotto pool has been settled by B.C.'s Supreme Court.
Singh calls on Canada to stop critical minerals exports to U.S. amid Trump tariff threat
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says the only way to deal with 'bully' U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and his looming tariff threat is to make him feel the 'pain' of Canada's retaliatory measures.
Hanging out at Starbucks will cost you as company reverses its open-door policy
If you want to hang out or use the restroom at Starbucks, you’re going to have to buy something. Starbucks on Monday said it was reversing a policy that invited everyone into its stores.
Bishop's students allege teacher uses degrading terms, university doing nothing
Students at Bishop's University in Sherbrooke, Que., say they're shocked and appalled by the school's apparent lack of action over a teacher they allege has been using derogatory language in her classroom for years.
Norovirus cases are rising in Canada. Here's advice from a doctor
Canadian health officials are reporting a rising number of cases of the highly contagious norovirus illness in Canada, warning that the elderly and young children are most at risk.
Queen Elizabeth II wasn't told about Soviet spy in her palace, declassified MI5 files show
Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t told details of her long-time art adviser's double life as a Soviet spy because palace officials didn’t want to add to her worries, newly declassified documents reveal.
Live grenade found among scrap metal in Kingston, Ont.: police
Police in Kingston, Ont. say a live grenade was found in a scrap metal container at a local waste facility this weekend.