The Swan River Centennial Arena was built in 1967.
It's home to the Swan Valley Stampeders of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, and local teams of all ages, from minor hockey to the Swan River Tigers high school hockey team, and everything in between.
It features four dressing rooms, a sound system, a fully-stocked canteen, and is the heartbeat of the community.
The facility hosts birthday parties, public skating, and so much more. Danielle Gordon-Broome is the recreation director for the Town of Swan River, and she spoke on what the arena means to the community.
She said it's a central hub and a gathering place.
"A place where people of all ages come out and get together," said Gordon-Broome. "Whether it's the older generation teaching the younger generation, or sitting in the stands and watching the Stampeders play. It's a central place for our community."
A few years ago, issues with the facility started to surface. The original idea was to retrofit the arena to modernize it. While this process started, there was a change in the council. New members had the vision of a new arena.
The direction changed, and buzz in the community began to build.
"Obviously, the prospect of getting an upgraded facility is a big thing for anyone who uses the current arena," added Gordon-Broome. "Being a Centennial Arena, it's been around for a long time. The prospect of something bright, shiny, and new is always an exciting thing."
The Town then applied for a grant through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program. On Wednesday, a heartbreaking result came to life. The Town of Swan River learned they were not selected for funding.
"It's obviously disappointing and isn't the outcome we were hoping for," ended Gordon-Broome. "At this point, we're going to gather again and discuss what the future of either a new facility or the current facility will look like."
This is a developing story that we'll continue to cover.
