THE STORY BEHIND THE GATINEAU VALLEY ARENA

The Gatineau Valley Arena is owned and operated by the Central Gatineau Arena Association. The CGAA is actively working to modernize the facility and to enhance and expand the services available to better accommodate and adapt to the needs of this growing rural area.

The building of the Gatineau Valley Arena was a collaborative community effort primarily of the Low & District Lions Club and the Low Recreation Club. In the early 1990’s the only arenas in this region were in Maniwaki, Hull, Gatineau and Shawville. Youth and adults played hockey and other ice sports on outdoor ice surfaces such as the one in the St. Michael’s High School yard. The property where the arena is situated was bought from a Low resident, Gerald Smith. The arena association was incorporated in the spring of 1993. The building of the arena was funded through local fundraising, corporate fundraising, and federal & provincial grants. The actual arena construction began in September 1993, after several years of planning and fundraising. Much of the construction work was done by volunteers (over 300 people who donated 22,000 hours). Many work bees were held during the fall construction. Every weekend there were meals provided to the workers at the Heritage Hall located across the yard from the arena. Food was donated and prepared by local volunteers.  The arena opened to public skating on January 23, 1994. The original activities were minor hockey, adult recreational hockey, broomball, public skating, curling and figure skating that ran from October to March.