Revitalized community centre in rural Saskatchewan gets second life: Town of Ituna retrofits 63-year-old facility

An arena retrofit project in Ituna, SK, population 700, will benefit local residents as well as the neighbouring communities of Kelliher, Melville, Little Black Bear First Nation, Muskowkewan First Nation, and the rural municipalities of Bon Accord and Kellross, a total area population of 8,200.

The Ituna Community Arena was built in 1961 and was at risk of being declared unsafe to use without the retrofit it desperately needs. The decades have taken their toll on the arch-rib style facility, and in recent years heavy snowfalls, high winds and hailstorms have brought the walls and roof to an almost unusable state. The updated building will be a modern, functional and energy-efficient recreational space that everyone in and around the community can enjoy year-round for many years to come.

Once completed, the retrofit will serve surrounding rural communities and local First Nations. The project demonstrates new knowledge, practices and technologies that have never been used in any of the town’s buildings, including:  

• An insulated steel structure to be constructed over the existing ice surface boards, lobby and dressing rooms.       
• An LED lighting system.      
• Installation of condensing hot water heaters, in-floor heating, a walking track and wheelchair-accessible washrooms.