A ceremonial puck dropped inside ±«Óătvâs Oulton-Stanish Centre Thursday (March 12), marking the official opening of the universityâs new home for varsity hockey, physiotherapy, community events, and more.ÌęÌę
The facilityâs NHL-size ice surface will support competition, training, and recreational programming for athletes of all ages in the wider community.
âThis day has been a long time coming,â said Tim Maloney, Dalâs assistant vice-president, Athletics and Ancillary Services, in remarks at the opening, which drew a mix of students, staff, supporters and neighbours. Construction of the Centre began in 2023 after years of planning. The new facility replaces the former ±«Óătv Memorial Arena, which was demolished in 2012.Ìę
âI speak on behalf of our fantastic student-athletes, club teams and community partners when I say thank you for being a part of the vision to bring this arena and wellness hub to life,â Maloney said.ÌęÌę
This 60,000-square-foot facility includes a new ice rink, event space, and an expanded home for the ±«Óătv Physiotherapy Clinic, serving as an on-campus wellness hub for Dal students, faculty, staff, and the greater Halifax community.ÌęÌę
Attendees mingle at the opening Thursday, March 12.Ìę
Support for student athletes
âHaving a state-of-the-art arena back on campus is critical to our success as current student-athletes, and we know it will help Dal attract and retain talented student athletes in the future,â said Robbie Forbes, a third-year student and member of the Dal Tigers Menâs Hockey Team.Ìę
We know it will help Dal attract and retain talented student athletes in the future.
±«Óătv had been renting ice time four kilometres away at the Halifax Forum. With the new arena on campus, travel time for home games and practices is greatly reduced for the womenâs and menâs varsity hockey teams. The new facility also brings fans back to campus, with more than 900 spectators able to attend games at the Centreâs South Street location.Ìę
Dedicated ice time for recreation programs, Tiger hockey camps and public skates also provide new opportunities for community members to stay active. .Ìę
Serving the wider community
âThis space not only serves our varsity, club teams and recreational programming at Dal, but, particularly through the expansion of the ±«Óătv Physiotherapy Clinic, it serves the wider community,â Maloney said.
Fundraising through ±«Óătvâs Bringing Worlds Together campaign helped finance the project. To date, ±«Óătv has fundraised $10 million towards the Oulton-Stanish Centre. This project would not have been possible without generous donorâŻsupport.âŻFundraising continues with opportunities to support at many levels.Ìę
An arena like this is built by a community for the community.
âAn arena like this is built by a community for the community,â Maloney continued.Ìę âThank you to our sponsors and donors who supported our seat sale, bought a plaque on our legacy wall, named a level or a community locker room, or who just cheered us on from afar.âÌę
Donor-funded spaces promote wellnessÌęÌę
The Oulton-Stanish Centre includes the new Fred & Elizabeth Fountain Lobby, recognizing the generosity of Drs. Fred (LLBâ74, LLDâ00) & Elizabeth Fountain (LLDâ22) to the project, along with The Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Community Wellness Level that includes the expanded home of the .ÌęÌę
Tim Maloney (left) and President Brooks (right) thanked Fred and Elizabeth Fountain for their contribution to the project.
The ±«Óătv Physiotherapy Clinic currently serves about 15,000 people annually. The expanded facility allows for increased capacity while providing access to additional services, specialized care and hands-on learning opportunities.
±«Óătv President Kim Brooks said the newly expanded clinic will also allow for more student placements and experiential learning opportunities for Dal Faculty of Health students.ÌęÌę
âItâs a perfect example of how sport and recreation are the ingredients for healthy communities,â she said in remarks at the event.Ìę
âThe friendship projectâÌę
President Brooks offered special thanks to the many donors and partners who brought the Centre to life â particularly its namesakes, alumni Ian Oulton (BAâ66) and Dr. William (Bill) Stanish (MDâ70). Their more than 60-year friendship that formed during their time as Dal students and members of the Tigers varsity football and hockey teams endures.ÌęÌę
âI talk about this project as the friendship project,â she said. âTheir (Oultonâs and Dr. Stanishâs) optimism was consistent, while their leadership and generosity were contagious.âÌę
âItâs been a pleasure working with Bill on this project,â said Ian Oulton, founder of RKO Steel, while noting it took a long time to build and that hard decisions had to be made.Ìę
Legacy wall in the Oulton-Stansish Centre.Ìę
Dr. Stanish, an orthopedic surgeon, spoke directly to the Centreâs donors, saying they should be very proud that theyâd come forward to support the initiative. He called his friendship with Oulton âa great bond,â adding âWe love ±«Óătv. School, sport and a great caring for each other â it gave us everything.âÌę
Recreation programs restarting
Grace Beer, a fourth-year student and member of the Dal Tigers Womenâs Hockey Team, spoke about how quickly people have gravitated toward the Centre.Ìę
"It is already becoming a space on campus where students and community members can gather and engage in recreational or varsity sports.âÌęÌę
There was a community free skate after the opening event, followed by a friendly game between two Dal residences.Ìę
Maloney thanked everyone who attended for coming out to help celebrate the opening. âWhile we have been fortunate to use the Forum to continue running and building our varsity teams, recreational programs and hockey camps, we sorely missed having a dedicated arena on campus.âÌę Ìę
Varsity hockey players, Grace Beer and Robbie Forbes with Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore.