Elliot Lake arena set for September reopening after 3 years

Elliot Lake's arena rebuild is nearing completion after three years. The Vikings' dressing rooms and ice are the top priority for a NOJHL return.

After nearly three years, Elliot Lake is officially one step closer to bringing hockey and community skates back home.

At Monday night’s city council meeting, officials received a progress update on the reconstruction of the Rogers Centennial Arena, alongside a locked-in $26.6-million final budget and a key funding measure to prevent any final-minute delays.

Perry and Perry Architects, the leading firm, said the immediate focus is to have the ice surface and dressing rooms fully operational in time for the Junior-A Elliot Lake Vikings’ training camp on August 25.

“The priority right now is the Viking section, the arena and the use of the arena and the dressing room,” said Chris Perry, architect and firm senior partner.

“The lobby is not required for the Vikings’ use in terms of what they need to do for their training camp. So, we are focusing our efforts in those three main areas to get them occupied and ready.”

While the lobby area will require more time to finish, Perry said that exterior work, insulation upgrades, and the building’s sprinkler system are nearing completion. Structural accessibility improvements are also well underway, with ice expected to be put down by August 4.

“The ice plant has always been an issue and a concern for me,” Perry said.

“We had it tested when I first got involved. Everything looked good, with the exception of some frozen elements and parts that were heaved and moved that we’ve since corrected.”

The 58-year-old facility was shut down in September 2023 over fears of a potential roof collapse.

The Junior-A Elliot Lake Vikings were forced to take a leave of absence from the NOJHL due to the lack of a home venue.

A few councillors had the opportunity to witness some of the progress on Monday.

“I was very impressed today,” said Elliot Lake Mayor Andrew Wannan on July 13.

“Very different than what everybody will remember. There is still a lot of work to be done. You have six weeks, but in the last six weeks, it’s tremendous how much has happened.”

On Monday, council voted to finalize the $26.6-million reconstruction budget and approved a $750,000 contingency fund.

“We believe that is something that can at least give a little bit of breathing room just in case if there is something that comes up,” said Andrew Ault, the city’s director of finance.

“Obviously with the election on the horizon in October, we don’t want to get distracted from our goal of making sure that we have that facility open, as soon as possible in August and obviously in September.”

The spending authority of the contingency fund would go directly to the Chief Administrative Officer position. Because the city’s permanent CAO seat is currently vacant following a sudden departure in June, this decision gives co-interim acting CAOs the immediate power to approve emergency expenditures.

Perry said the project is under budget.

“We have determined that all of the unknowns, everything’s been exposed,” he said.

“Everything has been we know what we’re dealing with. I am saying we are under budget. I have used the majority of my contingencies in an effort to be under that budget.”

Perry added that he believes the arena will be open to the public when the Vikings host their home opener on Sept. 25.