Supplied: Source Energy Arena and Recreation Centre Facebook

By Abby Zieverink

Rental Ice plant installed

Wembley arena open to community as rental ice plant officially installed

Nov 23, 2021 | 12:28 PM

Ice is back in the Source Energy Arena in Wembley.

After many months of roadblocks following a fire at the arena in 2020, as well as delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Arena Rebuild Committee Chair Renee Corrigal says the ice surface is finally open to the community for public skating, shinny, and rentals.

“The rest of the building is still under construction, maneuvering through the insurance claim and the rebuild. So ,at the moment, it’s dressing rooms and the ice,” she said.

“We had opening day on (Monday), we had public skating and shinny, we had people playing hockey, there were a ton of kids and adults in the building.

“It was great.”

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Corrigal tells EverythingGP there have been many hurdles to get to this point, especially delays in shipping and services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It has delayed everything from ordering the steel beams for the roof, we still have an open roof on the other side, so we’ve had to go through a lot of inspections and a lot of stuff to get to where we’re at, but, COVID has definitely played a huge role in the delay of things.”

Due to this, Corrigal says the committee has had to shift their direction on the reopening of the facility, specifically with the shipping delay of the cooling tower.

Without the help from the Town of Wembley, County of Grande Prairie, local industry and the community, she says they would have not been able to open the ice surface this season.

“At the moment we have a rental ice plant in place and that’s what allowed us to open,” she said.

Read More: County of Grande Prairie approves $38,000 for Wembley arena ice plant rental, installation

“With the help from the county to secure two months of a rental for the ice plant and through industry, we were able to secure that for the rest of the hockey season.”

Corrigal explains the fire and the pandemic have made the opening of the facility an uphill battle. However, she is excited residents can start skating and enjoying the arena again.

“I’m glad the town has been patient with us, for residents, but we’re happy to bring the Wildcats back to home life and have people in the building again, even if it is at limited capacity and a whole bunch of restrictions,” she said.

“We’re very happy to be where we’re at.”

The Wembley and District Ag Society is hosting its annual Winter Gala and silent auction and dinner on December 4, with the money raised set to support the arena fire rebuild efforts.

More information on the Source Energy Arena and Recreation Centre can be found on their Facebook page.