Centennial Arena in Scarborough got a $50,000 boost last week when Lowe's presented the city with a cheque to fund its renovation.
Part of a nationwide marketing scheme and partnership with
Hockey Canada, the
North Carolina-based home improvement chain gives out two such cheques a year to hockey arenas across the country.
Lowe's has been operating in Canada since 2007.
"The key upgrade is the installation of what's known as a low-emissive ceiling, a 'low-e' ceiling," says Rob Richardson, manager of partnership development for the city's Parks and Forestry department. "It's a reflective ceiling that adds a number of benefits to the facility, most importantly its energy efficiency. Some of the side benefits are that it also increases the lighting levels. We're hoping it may have some additional benefits to the sound in the arena. Arenas are notorious for echoey sound."
Part of the Lowe's program is to encourage community involvement in the project, so on June 2 and 3, neighbourhood volunteers will clean up the arena and paint hallways and locker rooms.
Richardson says all the work will be done by the end of summer, and that there will be a re-opening celebration in September.
The mayor was represented at the handover ceremony last week by councillor
Mike Del Grande, who told
Yonge Street, "It's always great to have private interests collaborate to help the city in which they do business."
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Rob Richardson, Mike Del Grande
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