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
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
The pros and cons of discussing mental health issues in the workplace
A group of lawyers has written what they call a groundbreaking book about how mental health is perceived in the legal profession.
A candidate for Germany's key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left party in next month's election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.