Goodbye to Kin 1
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 @ 4:36 AM
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New Kin 1 on left, current Kin 1 on right.
Prince George, B.C.- It was the night to raise the banners to the roof, only to prepare to take them down.
Last night was the final night for ice hockey at the Kin 1 arena. When the evening’s event was over, the refrigeration unit was turned off to prepare for the removal of the ice surface. Kin 1 will be home to the home show, and then, the demolition and rebuilding will begin.
It is all part of the facilities upgrade made possible through the capital funding for the 2015 Canada Winter Games. Kin 1 will have a new lounge, ten new dressing rooms, better facilities for the refs, new office space and an Olympic sized ice surface.
The demolition and reconstruction of the new facility is being met with mixed emotions from the likes of Grant Williams. He has played on this ice since 1972 “It is time the place was refurbished” says Williams who now plays in the old-timers league and was on the ice last night as one of the “Rusty Nuts” in the final game . “The dressing rooms have to be redone, and the showers need upgrading, so, yes its time.” .jpg)
(at right, puck is dropped to mark the start of the final game at the current Kin 1 – photo Opinion250)
There were two banners to be raised to the roof, to be added to the many banners that mark provincial championships for a variety of teams that have called Kin 1 home. The Bantam female Cougars, and the Midget Cariboo Cougars, watched as their banners marking their accomplishments were raised to the ceiling.
They are the last banners to be raised in Kin I and will be the first to be raised to the roof in the new centre when it officially opens.
Andy Beesley, Manager of Arenas for the City of Prince George says Kin 1 is just beyond repair “There is a crack in the foundation right underneath that blue line that can no longer be fixed. In the fall, when the rain is falling outside, it is literally raining inside too, the roof is in such bad condition.”
But with the banners up, the time had come to say goodbye to the 40 year old arena which Grant Williams says is chock full of wonderful memories. His favourite memories are not of the games he played or the goals scored, but from the years he coached. “Oh there have been lots of teams from Vancouver who have visited this place who wished they hadn’t” said Williams with a smile, his eyes tilt toward the roofline, where the banner his Cariboo Cougars team had been awarded, as Provincial Champs in 2007-2008. 
(At right, Mayor Shari Green and Arenas Manager Andy Beesley prepare to raise banners – photo Opinion250)
Williams is one of those in the hockey playing community who wished the City had moved towards building a brand new ice surface, adding to the overall ice capacity in the City. “Absolutely I would have preferred a new arena, as the user groups will be inconvenienced while this one is being refurbished, but, once it is done, all will be forgotten and people will be happy to come to this new facility to play.”
Comments
Just wondering; when Kin 1 is rebuilt, will it be called Kin 1 or will it be called Rogers Arena?
Why on earth would someone wonder that.
Like all good books, movies, etc., it will be called KIN 1 – the sequel.
Interesting to see the mood of the Opinion250 bloggers at the time the City’s letter of intent to bid was accepted. I think it was sent in around this time of year in 2009. A brand new Council ready to spend, spend, spend …. some on the wrong things.
http://www.opinion250.com/blog/view/13708
And now those same people are discovering they can no longer spend, spend, spend ….. well …. sort of … LOL
I love these words on the linked site below:
Regarding the PG Bid
“To gain public support of hosting a $50 million event, it was essential that all information was transparent to the public, and the BID committee ensured this was consistent from beginning to end.”
What a crock!! The bid details were very much hidden from all those who were not part of the process so that the other cities bidding would not know details of the bid package and gain an advantage.
http://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/100.asp
“This project received an Honourable Mention for the 2011 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Best Practices, Civic Engagement.”
And what award would the bloggers of Opinion250 give the City? Enquiring minds want to know.
Gus has it right. Also, the “communications” and “engagement” manager did such a good job of being “transparent” he was promoted the the Games staff. Perfect.
gus: “And what award would the bloggers of Opinion250 give the City? Enquiring minds want to know.”
At the end of the day, does it matter what O250 bloggers think at any given point in time? Some opinions change, some stay the same.
Tier 1 Midget Cougars won gold at the Provincials and it was their banner that was raised; not Major Midget as stated in your story. Please correct
Follow up to Fran’s comment: story says “Midget Cariboo Cougars” – should read “Midget tier 1 PG Cougars”. Cariboo Cougars won silver by the way!
Spent many years and hundreds of hours at this Kin watching hockey when the kids were younger….good to see the old girl get a face lift. The new building will be first rate – the original has done ‘er job:)
There was much made about the “need” for an 8th rink for Prince George. For the next two years there will be 6.
I think, given the controversy, opinion250 should ask Andy Beesley, Manager of Arenas, how the scheduling was managed.
Was there really the need some proponents claimed (without a thorough assessment similar to the PAC group) or were they just opportunists riding a bandwagon?
I think the issue is big enough for someone reputable and dogged do ask these kinds of questions.
Some opportunist rode that bandwagon all the way to the mayors chair.
It will be interesting to see how they schedule all the kids in for next season. As far as I could tell all the rinks were busy every weekend.
This is so sad I bet I’m not the only one that hasn’t even heard the particulars of this project. City hall is as transparent as a badly catteracted eye.
Bohemian: Was there really the need some proponents claimed (without a thorough assessment similar to the PAC group) or were they just opportunists riding a bandwagon?
No there wasn’t, at least not made public, and this is, aside from the additional expense, the main reason it should have been, and was, shot down.
Proponents of Kin IV spout how Dan changed the plan when in fact, the replacement of Kin I as it stands was in the original bid. Green, Stolz and company were the ones that road the net with a group of ill-informed yet enthusiastic group to bring it to the table to ammend with a whole new free standing structure.
Before we go blowing the majority of the 2015 capital budget on one sport, this group with Green and company at the helm could not even prove the NEED.
Oh yes, I forgot, it also wouldn’t have cost the taxpayer anything, they were going to find ways to shave millions off the cost – oh and the annual maintenance and operations costs would not cost the citizen either, what a load of bunk. Way too big a gamble with our money, given a tight time line.
I saw the emails floating around from the special interest group crying for more money without proving any need or way to pay for it…..unfortunately too many people don’t think critically and hop aboard the whaaaaaa whaaaaaaaaaaaa train.
I mean we were not talking tens of thousands or even a few hundred thousand – we were talking MILLIONS.
As a long time hockey parent, the kids will be fine and the over 40 crowd, while I admire they are keen to be active….work with it for one freakn’ season cause it can and will work if there is the desire.
Now that Green and Stolz are large and in charge, they can’t even see their way to waive a measly $13 grand or so in expenses to the Habitat for Humanity group, a group that will help them with their own homelessness plan…on so many levels it is disgusting.
I support intiatives such as this (benefit far outweighs the cost)over a useless dike and needless sheet of ice, anyday.
bcnorth250:
Correct. The original plan was to refurbish Kin1. The decision by council to change the plan was done while Rogers was on holidays and Green was acting mayor. Rogers had to run home and stop the decision. That slap-down was probably what started thoughts of the big chair for Mrs. fiscally responsible. Of course PG Rec hockey lobbied for Green for mayor, I guess some people figured Shari could pull a hockey arena out of her a….er hat.
The Habitat for Humanity folks are probably not the type to shop at JJ Springer or Great White Toys. The people at Theatre Northwest and the Symphony must be.
Contrary to some opinions on here it seems the city had a number of public reports on the games. Check the city’s website and you can see the report that was approved on May 17, 2010 (Item D8).http://www.princegeorge.ca/CityHall/MayorCouncil/CouncilAgendasMinutes/agendas/2010/2010_05_17/index.html It includes all the budget numbers and council’s endorsement of the capital plan and bid.
if ya check the minutes of the same meeting you will see only skakun and munoz opposed it. It is also ironic that the motion to approve the capital plan, budget and the bid package was made by stolz and green. So if they were well aware of the plan before they endorsed it begs the question why did they critize it a year later pretending they didn’t have a chance for input? It couldn’t be that they were just pandering for votes in the upcoming election. Never mind the answer is obvious.
I agree with bcnorth, someone should ask beesly just how much demand will be unmet during construction. I hear there was even prime time ice that went unused this season.
BTW, further updates on the games were made on Sept 13, 2010 and a lengthy one (Item E2) that is worth checking out on Nov. 29,2010 http://www.princegeorge.ca/CityHall/MayorCouncil/CouncilAgendasMinutes/agendas/2010/2010_11_29/index.htmlthat gives full details of the bid and plans.
Shari Green Place……..?
Hey, she’s got to have a legacy for her one term as Ms. Mayor, and naming the multi million dollar river bank after her would definitely be inappropriate.
metalman.
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