Penetanguishene Needs a New Sports & Recreation Center

Penetanguishene Arena as it appeared in early the 1960s. Built in 1954 by mostly volunteer labour, its lifespan is nearing an end.

In 2023, Penetanguishene again is at a crossroads, just as we were in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Then, Penetanguishene’s natural-ice rink, located down by the present beer store and owned by AC Osbourne, had burned down. Businessmen in town, led by the visionary Bud Dubeau, quickly rallied around the idea of Penetanguishene having it’s own, new and modern arena. The result was the construction of the present arena by mostly volunteer labour, opening with natural ice in 1954 and upgraded with artificial ice, four years later.

As much as upgrades and additions in the 1980s and 2007 gave the old girl a new lease on life, the fact is that our arena (and curling club, built in the mid-1970s), have sadly reached their end-of-life cycles. A recent study commissioned by council, identified the fact that both buildings have maybe ten years of life left in them, and that’s including regular and expensive maintenance and upgrading to keep them functioning. After consultation with many user groups, the study also weighed options for the property such as a new Burkevale school, (despite education not being a municipal jurisdiction), and concluded that the best option was a new sports and recreation complex to be constructed at the former PSS site at 51 Dunlop Street.

It is time for the town to be bold. Just as it did in the early 1950s, Penetanguishene must convene a committee to follow-up on the work of the study and develop a plan of action to pursue county, provincial and federal funding options. There is no time to waste as this will not happen overnight.

In the past, Penetanguishene saved its museum, library and created a new waterfront park and sports hall of fame which are all now jewels of the community and we are proud of them. But at the time, there was wide public sentiment that they were too expensive, “We can’t afford that!” many said. Despite this, town administration, council, committees and citizens, pursued and obtained grants and moneys to make them happen. Culture, recreation and sport are essential to the town’s health, identity and growth.

So, we are again at a crossroads. Let us not forget that Penetanguishene has already lost two important cornerstones - its hospital and highschool. Their loss was and continues to be felt deeply. It must not lose its remaining lifebloods - its community center, arena and curling club!