Ilderton Arena celebrated its grand reopening Thursday afternoon following major facility upgrades. Steve Pinsonneault, MPP for Lampton-Kent-Middlesex, says the transformation was necessary. “From what it was to what it is now is night and day,” said Pinsonneault. The province of Ontario announced a $1 million investment back in July 2025 to help cover essential repairs and upgrades to the arena. “Arenas like this across our province have been aging out and haven’t been receiving a lot of love,” said Neil Lumsden, Ontario’s minister of sport. The upgrades were supported through Ontario’s Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund as part of a $4 million renovation project. “All of these communities are applying for it,” said Pinsonneault. “They need that money; they need that money to keep going.” Lumsden says the money helped “retrofit” in many ways. “The washrooms, making them more accessible, from locker rooms to washrooms and the boards that I’m standing beside are accessible for anyone who wants to watch,” said Lumsden. The event recognized the completion of renovations that strengthened the arena’s role as a central hub for sports, recreation, and community life in Ilderton. “This is a place where people gather, see each other, and it’s critical to have amenities like that in our communities,” said Aina Deviet, mayor of Middlesex-Centre. “It builds community.” Ilderton Arena opened in 1972 and is famously home to Olympic gold medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. “You look at all the skaters that were out there today they did an amazing job and all the young skaters that are out there you know, possible future gold medalists,” said Pinsonneault.
