December 16, 1948, marked an important date in Collingwood’s progress and historic milestones when the community christened a brilliant, $194,000 "cathedral" for sport in the heart of downtown on Hurontario Street.
The 17,000-square-foot Collingwood Community Arena with artificial ice and a capacity for 3,000 individuals (1,500 seats, 500 preferred standing and 1,000 ordinary standing) was celebrated with performances by Toronto’s University Skating Club and the Collingwood Kiltie Band.
Admission was $1 and standing room was 75 cents for people to witness the official opening and dedication by Ontario’s Minister of Education, Dana Porter. Among the congratulatory telegrams read during the gala evening was one written by the president of the National Hockey League, Clarence Campbell.
“It is only fitting that Collingwood should finally be rewarded with one of the finest artificial ice arenas in the country because this town ranks high in the pioneering of the great Canadian national game of hockey,” wrote Collingwood sports legend Scotty Carmichael in The Enterprise-Bulletin.
The evolution of the new ice surface and community centre spanned less than two years. During the town’s 1947 election, ratepayers voted 704 to 424 in favour of the new construction of an artificial ice surface, rather than spending up to $65,000 to improve Park Arena, which would eventually become the new home for Collingwood’s curlers.
The people’s choice was called the “wiser course” by The Enterprise-Bulletin. “This Georgian Bay town should not lag behind its neighbours in the matter of up-to-date accommodation for recreation.”
Preparation of the arena site in Market Square began in the spring of 1947 as part of the town hall, known as the opera house, was demolished by the Meaford firm George Hutchinson. The $21,500 concrete contract bid by Matthew Johnson was received by town council in July 1947.
The arena’s steel construction, by the Canadian Bridge Company of Walkerville, began during the winter of 1948 with the first large arch erected on Feb. 9. There are nine full arches, 124 feet wide, and two end frames, in the 240-foot-long building.
Reports indicate that the structure was riveted by Collingwood’s shipbuilders and that the concrete blocks were manufactured in the community. One of the final contracts for the new building was for the arena entrance through the town hall arcade. The tender of Wm. Brown was accepted at a cost of just over $3,200.
The original $150,000 allotted for a new facility was exceeded due to rising costs of materials, including 57,000 feet of two-foot-by-six-foot, tongue-and-groove spruce from British Columbia for the roof. The arena committee asked town council for an extra $15,000 due to the increased cost of building materials (25 to 40 per cent higher) and labour costs.
Collingwood’s first-of-its-kind public campaign to raise $35,000 for the new arena (‘Your Arena’ as noted in the local newspaper) was launched in May 1948 and was headed by Stanley Cup Champion and famous Collingwood son, Bern Brophy. Individuals, groups, teams, clubs and businesses offered their financial contributions. Among the many events and endeavours was "Shipyard Night," sponsored by employees of the Collingwood Shipyards, in support of the arena campaign fund.
“It is to be a place where all citizens, young and old, may assemble under one roof to entertain and be entertained,” Mr. Brophy outlined.
The campaign would eventually be taken over by the Collingwood Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Just two days after the official opening, two thousand spectators packed the stands when the Collingwood Intermediate ‘A’ Shipbuilders took to the ice for their first hockey game at the new rink, measuring 85 feet and four inches by 200 feet and eight inches (dimensions slightly larger than Maple Leaf Gardens).
Bob Sandell etched his name in local history by scoring the inaugural hometown goal in the 10-5 victory over the Georgetown Raiders, Ontario Hockey Association’s champions the previous season.
The Collingwood Community Arena, the symbol of unity and the enduring spirit of Collingwood, is now known as the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena.
