Campus Ice Centre grand opening draws more than 200 community members

OSHAWA, Ont. - Hundreds of community members packed Oshawa's new twin pad arena - the Campus Ice Centre, located on the Durham College and University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) campus in north Oshawa - for its official opening yesterday.

Operational since September, the new twin-pad arena is the result of a partnership between the City of Oshawa, Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and is already alleviating Oshawa's ice shortage by providing users of all ages and genders with available ice time throughout the week.

With two NHL-sized ice pads, 10 change rooms, a sports retail outlet, offices, a community room and food and beverage facilities, it is expected over 600,000 users will frequent the arena between 7 a.m. and midnight all year round.

Yesterday's event was hosted by Terry Johnston of CKDO and was kicked off with refreshments, popcorn, face painting, clowns, and balloons in the main lobby of the arena, followed by a performance by the Robert Anderson Campus Pipes & Drums as dignitaries, guests and friends of the college and university were led onto the ice.

From there, a ribbon-cutting ceremony that ran the length of the ice took place along with the unveiling of a plaque by Durham College and UOIT President Dr. Gary Polonsky and City of Oshawa Mayor John Gray. Formal speakers included Mayor Gray, Dr. Polonsky, Student Association President at Durham College and UOIT Thomas Coughlan, Chair of the Board for Durham College and UOIT Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann, Councilor John Neal, and Councilor Cathy Clarke.

Hockey legend Bobby Baun was on hand to sign autographs for eager hockey fans. Nearly 100 children participated in a Scholarship Shootout where five lucky children managed to net the puck and scored a $1,000 scholarship to Durham College or UOIT for their efforts.

Ice time is still available for booking by calling 905.721.3230.

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Media contact
Heather Middleton
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.3111 ext. 2197
heather.middleton@dc-uoit.ca