Dale Fisher Arena twinning project gets green light from Council

With this new facility, additional ice time will be available for local user groups and for public skating. Town administration will be working with local user groups to coordinate extra ice times.

There will also be the opportunity to host large scale events such as hockey tournaments which will help bring more visitors into the community.

“Expanding the Dale Fisher Arena is a huge win as the upgraded facility will feature a second sheet of ice and other new amenities that will fit the needs of our growing community and be a major economic driver for the Town, says Mayor Craddock. “We are thrilled that with the scope change of the project we are still eligible for the Federal ICIP grant and an endorsement from the Government of Alberta’s MSI, making this a fiscally viable project for the community at this time. With all the funding received, the Town will only be responsible for 21.9 cents per dollar spent on the project.”

Relocation of outdoor rink and soccer fields

As a result of the expansion project the outdoor rink located on the west side of the current Dale Fisher Arena will be temporarily relocated for winter 2023. The temporary location for the outdoor rink will be shared with the community once the location is officially determined.

A public consultation will take place in early 2023 to determine the best new permanent location for the outdoor rink.

The soccer fields to the west of the Arena will be relocated in spring 2023 and more details will be shared with the community once the new location is officially determined.

Learn more about the Dale Fisher Arena Expansion Project at devon.ca/recexpansion

Background of the project

The concept for the Dale Fisher Arena Expansion Project was originally proposed as a recreation facility to be built across from HWY 60 or to be added on to the existing Dale Fisher Arena and Devon Community Pool.

In August 2020 the Town was approved under the Federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) and the Government of Alberta’s Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) to receive $13.5 million in funding for a proposed recreational facility.

In June 2021 Town Council awarded the construction tender, but after receiving a cost estimate for the proposed recreation facility Council decided to put construction on hold as the Town’s borrowing capacity was not sufficient to sustain the project.

In response to ongoing community needs assessments as well as financial implications of a recreation facility, the Town re-evaluated the vision for the facility to be more financially viable and address the community’s need of having a second sheet of ice.

In mid 2022 The Town was approved to receive the same funding amount under the Federal ICIP and the Provincial MSI and on August 8, 2022 Council voted to retender the Dale Fisher Arena Expansion Project with the proposed scope change from a recreation facility to a twinned arena.

On September 11, 2022 Council voted in favour of the first reading of the proposed borrowing bylaw 980/2022 to enable the Town to fund it’s portion of the project and at the November 1 meeting the tender was officially awarded to (name of construction company).

Community voices

The Dale Fisher Arena is currently home to the Devon Minor Hockey Association, Devon Skating Club, NAX Hockey Academy, the Barons Men’s Team, and community-wide public skating.

“A new twinned arena will be fantastic for our club” says Rebekah Ott, President of the Devon Skating Club. “We will be able to expand our Canskate program, which is currently at full capacity, and host competitions that will bring more people to Devon.”

Duane McNirney, President of the Devon Minor Hockey Association also voiced his enthusiasm for the project stating "as a long-time resident of Devon and current President of the Devon Minor Hockey Association, the build of a new arena is exciting. The residents of Devon and surrounding area as well as the current user groups of the existing arena will benefit when this facility opens. Bravo to the members of Town Council for supporting growth in Devon!" 

2022 is the inaugural year for the Devon Bisons Junior C Hockey Team and because of the current Dale Fisher Arena capacity the team has had to purchase practice ice outside of Town.

“The twin rink facility is an amazing opportunity for Devon [and] with a second sheet of ice we can set a practice schedule and focus on building a better hockey program” says Mike Vant Hoff, Head Coach for the Devon Bisons. “[The facility] will create more employment for residents and will provide a home for user groups to expand and improve their existing programs.”