Photos: Miskin Law Community Complex Officially Opens to Public
/The City of Peterborough has officially opened the new Miskin Law Community Complex and welcomed the community to explore the new facility, participate in activities and celebrate a new Indigenous public art installation on Wednesday.
Photo by David Tuan bui.
The grand opening of the new complex at Lansdowne and Park Streets includes free public skating, a yoga class, opportunities to view the art installation and a chance to try out the indoor walking track.
The 121,500-square-foot facility features a twin-pad arena, an indoor walking track, multi-purpose spaces and leasable office space. A Peterborough Public Library branch is set to open on Feb. 1 as a replacement for the De La Fosse branch.
“Today, we celebrate a moment more than a decade in the making. The opening of the Miskin Law Community Complex is the result of the cumulative effort and dedication of City staff, community supporters, and past and present City councils,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “This facility provides dynamic spaces like the twin-pad arena and walking track to help people be active, while also serving as a source for inspiration with a new library branch and public art installation.”
The ground-breaking ceremony of the $68.5-million facility began on Dec 8, 2022. However, construction began earlier that year in August.
The Miskin Law Community Complex’s gounrdbreaking ceremony on Dec. 8, 2022.
The building boasts reduced carbon emissions during construction by reducing concrete usage, optimizing building envelope materials and strategically using glazing according to the City. Operating emissions were reduced by nearly 40 per cent through features like LED lighting, a water-loop heat pump system with heat recovery from the ice plant, electric ice resurfacers and ventilation heat recovery systems.
The indoor walking track allows individuals of all ages and abilities to stay active. Meanwhile, a new public art installation builds awareness of Indigenous cultures, heritage and sport said the City.
Vanessa Dion Fletcher, an Indigenous artist, created a focal-point art installation in the floor-to-ceiling windows at the main entrance’s two-storey atrium. Supported by sculptor and fabricator Matthew Walker, the work Resonant Harmony features three hoops painted with the visual texture, patterns and colours of quillwork. The installation offers insight into Indigenous teachings, the ethos of sport and its role in fostering relationships.
The development of the City’s newest community complex received significant funding from the federal government and local corporate sponsors, totalling more than $9.4 million.
The project was bolstered with more than $8.4 million from the Canada Community-Building Fund.
In Ontario, the Canada Community-Building Fund is administered by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario twice annually to 443 municipalities with funding allocated per capita. Local corporate sponsors were important supporters of the project and contributed a cumulative total of $1 million to the project’s budget.
These sponsors include:
Miskin Law: Secured overall naming rights for the complex for the next 10 years
Canadian Hockey Enterprises: Secured naming rights for the south arena pad and has agreed to utilize lease space in the building for its operations
Russelle Toyota: Secured naming rights for the north arena pad
