Feature Article July 11, 2001
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North Frontenac Community Arena 25th anniversary
by David BrisonAn audience of over 450 people gathered in Piccadilly on Saturday night to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the North Frontenac Community Arena. They heard about the history and highlights of the arena, had dinner, and stayed for a dance.
Marcel Giroux, the chair of the initial arena board, explained how the board was able to stick- handle the project through the political mine fields. The turning point was when we decided not to have any reeves and deputy reeves on the committee, he said. The board was appointed in January 1974, and by June 1976, three months before the first puck was dropped, the $492,000 needed to pay for project was already raised. Marcel explained that the project became a reality when the former townships of Oso, Olden, Hinchinbrooke, and Bedford realized that they would not be able to afford an arena on their own and joined forces with Portland. This resulted in an arena that was somewhat far away from the northern communities, but 50% of the population lives south of the arena and 50% north. Without this compromise, we would have never had an arena.
Mayors Bill MacDonald and Phil Leonard brought greetings from their townships. Mayor Leonard noted that the arena would now cost $2.5 million and would be very difficult to finance in todays political climate. Both men praised the founding board and others who contributed to the arena.
MC Jack Fox introduced Jim Stinson, the arena manager. Jack noted that Jim has been the main force behind operating the arena during much of its 25 years of existence. He has been very effective and has been a good role model for the children using the arena for recreational skating, hockey and figure skating, Jack said.
Jim spoke of his highlights and memories of the 25 years. Shortly after he said in his speech that the arena was used for emergency purposes during the ice storm of 98, and miraculously only lost power for two hours, the lights in the arena went out. Jim was unable to read his notes and had to personally go and get the lights back on. When he resumed his talk, he said, The real achievements are not in producing NHL hockey players or champion figure skaters, but in seeing the kids who played and skated coming back with their own kids.
There were ten members on the original board: Marcel Giroux, Art Goodfellow, Arden Lee, Winston Cousins, Gerald Garrison, Bruce Reynolds, Dave Hansen, Ken Stinson, Bill OConnor, and Kay Cousins. Members who were present were Giroux, Goodfellow, Hansen, and Stinson. Doug OConnor was there to represent his father Bill OConnor, who was unable to attend because of illness. The other members are no longer living. Don Smith, whose family construction firm built the arena, was also present.
