The community has shown strong support for the Archie Miller Arena as the City of Lloydminster considers the storied barn’s future.
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“I really want to thank the people of this community and surrounding (area) that gave us those comments,” said Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers. “This is one of the highest turnouts of fielding input from the community we’ve ever seen. That’s as much as I’ve seen in eight years.”
The item was presented to council on June 16, giving options for the future of the nearly 60-year-old arena.
The utilization of the Archie increased to 88 per cent from 2023 to 2024 with all five indoor ice facilities averaging 88 per cent prime-time use.
Engagement opportunities from the community showed the importance of the Archie Miller Arena.
“Some engagement takeaways we heard, the Archie Miller arena is widely regarded as an essential community hub,” said Joel Turcotte, director of recreation and cultural services, City of Lloydminster. “There is overwhelming support to keep the Archie Miller as an ice facility.”
The City of Lloydminster currently has one indoor ice facility per 6,262 persons, not including the Cenovus Energy Hub.
The vast majority of use at the arena is youth.
“What the slide shows is that 70 per cent of our weekday prime time, 65 per cent of our non-prime time and 67 per cent of our weekly hours are being utilized by juniors and youths,” said Turcotte. “Scheduling is tight, and user groups are advocating that later times is not of benefit to youth.”
Based on future population growth, metrics show the need for more ice space in the city.
“Future infrastructure needs, based on population growth of 1.5 per cent annum, Lloydminster should consider adding an ice pad by 2041,” said Turcotte. “Assuming all other arenas are in good working order.”
Hearing from the community, additional space for dry-floor sports was identified.
“I also want to state that with the opening of Cenovus Energy Hub, we will have a new pad full season,” said Turcotte. “That alone will also help utilization of dry-floor space.”
The ice plant is something that is nearing the end of its life at the Archie.
“That ice plant is incredibly old. We actually found out we bought that ice plant from Delburne, Alta., in 1994 and it was already 10 or 15 years (old) when we bought it,” said Turcotte. “Currently, it’s working. Built in 1984, its lifespan is expiring quickly, so a replacement plant is probably needed within the next three to five years.”
Coun. Justin Vance was happy to see the response from the community.
“It seems like the people have spoken and want to keep the Archie around for a long time to come,” he said. “I’m happy to see the public support for keeping the arena around.”
Questions around the remaining life span at the arena were answered by administration.
“I think the building assessment said you can get 10 to 15 more years if you didn’t do anything to the building,” said Tracy Simpson, executive manager of community development services. “If we continue to invest in it, continue to maintain the roof, do repairs as required, we could get longer out of that life expectancy.”
The modernization option for the arena shows a potential $5.2 million investment, with outlines showing what’s needed and what isn’t.
“Option one for modernizing can be a progression, it doesn’t need to be everything,” said Simpson. “If we never do the ‘nice to haves’ it’s totally fine, they’re there for consideration by council and what we hear from the community.
“The plant is definitely the priority. It’s working fine right now but we’re definitely one big problem away from it not working the way it needs.”
She says it’s becoming more difficult to patch it as parts are difficult to find.
“It’s harder and harder, as we understand from our teams, to find parts,” said Simpson. “I think it’s important to be proactive there so we don’t have a plant malfunction mid-year that impacts our season.”
A new sheet of ice would cost the city more than fixing the Archie.
“In the study, it does tell us that a new ice arena would cost between $18 and $20 million, a single sheet,” said Turcotte.
Council accepted the report as information and requested the item be brought forward to a future council meeting.
Read more: City of Lloydminster seeking feedback on Archie Miller Arena
