The Cowichan Community Centre (formerly known as Island Savings Centre) is a facility serving
Cowichan Valley, British Columbia
The Cowichan Valley is a region around the Cowichan River, Cowichan Bay and Cowichan Lake on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. There is some debate as to the origin of the name Cowichan, which many believe to be an anglicized form o ...
. It has a pool, theater, arena, and gymnasium. It was built in 1978, on the former site of the Cowichan Curling Rink.
Island Savings, "Vancouver Island's Credit Union", donated $1 Million CDN to the centre in exchange for a 10-year naming rights deal. In 2019, the name reverted to "Cowichan Community Centre".
Cowichan Performing Arts Centre
Since 1978, the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre (formerly known as the Cowichan Theatre) has been the premiere entertainment venue in Cowichan welcoming thousands of visitors, patrons, performers and artists to its 731-seat proscenium-arch theatre. The Cowichan Performing Arts Centre serves the Cowichan region as a community theatre for local groups, as a roadhouse for touring professional artists, and as a conference and convention facility.
The Cowichan Performing Arts Centre is a function of the Arts & Culture Division of the Cowichan Valley Regional District's Recreation & Culture Department, with funding coming from throughout the Cowichan Region, from the Malahat to Ladysmith.
Cowichan Aquatic Centre
The ''Cowichan Aquatic Centre'' is the new swimming pool facility located adjacent to the Cowichan Community Centre, in the Municipality of North Cowichan and near the City of Duncan, completed for the 2008
North American Indigenous Games The North American Indigenous Games is a multi-sport event involving indigenous North American athletes staged intermittently since 1990. The Games are governed by the North American Indigenous Games Council, a 26-member council of representatives ...
. Standing on the platform in front of the Aquatic Centre, by the Totem Pole, is the perfect viewing spot to photograph the World's Largest Hockey Stick.
Cowichan Valley Arena
The Cowichan Valley Arena is a 2,040-seat multipurpose arena in
North Cowichan,
British Columbia, adjoined to the Cowichan Community Centre. It is home to the
Cowichan Valley Capitals ice hockey team of the
British Columbia Hockey League
The British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) is a Junior A ice hockey league from British Columbia under Hockey Canada and BC Hockey. Founded in Vernon in 1961, the BCHL now includes 18 teams.
From 1993 to 2021, the league was a member of the Ca ...
. Next to the Arena is the Gymnasium.
The ''Heritage Hall'' is a large hall upstairs connected to the Arena; it is a "Hall of Fame" for the Capitals and all the professional hockey players who come from
Cowichan Valley
The Cowichan Valley is a region around the Cowichan River, Cowichan Bay and Cowichan Lake on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. There is some debate as to the origin of the name Cowichan, which many believe to be an anglicized form ...
.
Vancouver Canucks
The
Vancouver Canucks have hosted their Training Camp at least three times in Cowichan Valley, 1980, 1984 and 1986.
"World's Biggest Hockey Stick & Puck"
Mounted on the eastern wall of the arena is a 62 m (205 ft) Hockey Stick, and Puck; the stick was declared the World's Biggest by
Guinness World Records. Built in 1985, at
Penticton,
British Columbia, and modelled after
Tony Tanti
Anthony Tanti (born September 7, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was a left winger and played the majority of his career in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Vancouver Canucks. Originally selected 12th overall ...
's stick, The Stick & Puck originally adorned the entrance to
Expo '86
The 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, or simply Expo 86, was a World's Fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from May 2 until October 13, 1986. The fair, the theme of which was "Transportation and Communicatio ...
, albeit a slightly different pose, beside the "Largest Flagpole". A society to get the Stick to North Cowichan was launched after Expo 86 ended, the attempt was successful and funds were obtained to pay for the dismantling, transportation, and reconstruction of the stick. The Stick was dedicated on May 21, 1988, 2 years and 1 day after Expo '86 opened.
The Stick dwarfs the one at
Eveleth, Minnesota
Eveleth is a city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,718 at the 2010 census.
U.S. Highway 53 and State Highway 37 (MN 37) are two of the main routes in Eveleth.
Eveleth was the site of the conflict that resu ...
by 29 metres (Eveleth's is 33 m/110 ft), however Guinness originally said the Minnesota hockey stick was the largest as it was constructed from pure wood, while the Expo stick had a steel framework. On July 12, 2008, they reversed their decision and the hockey stick was declared the world's largest.
Arena upgrades
In November 2008, the Capitals & the Island Savings Centre Commission jointly bought a Centaur Products H-2105 scoreboard to bring the arena up to Junior "A" standards. The Cowichan Community Centre joins a growing list of BCHL arenas to have a centre-ice hung scoreboard.
Arena image gallery
Image:CCCOldExtShot.jpg, Former exterior signage, now has new siding
Image:DuncanBCStickFact.jpg, Hockey Stick Facts
Image:CCCStickPic2.JPG, The Stick, from Expo '86
Image:CCCInterior1.jpg, Old Bleachers before 2007-08 BCHL Season
Image:CCCInt2-07.JPG, North End
Image:CCCInt3-07.jpg, Centre, Looking at East End
Image:CCCInt4-07.JPG, Centre, luxury boxes
Image:CCCInterior5-07.JPG, South End, balcony & boxes
References
{{BCHL Arenas
British Columbia Hockey League arenas
Indoor arenas in British Columbia
Indoor ice hockey venues in Canada
Sports venues in British Columbia
Cowichan Valley Regional District