Steinbach, MB - The City of Steinbach is pleased to announce the groundbreaking of the Southeast Event Centre. The overall project will be a catalyst for redeveloping Steinbach's downtown into a destination site for the community.
The brand-new Southeast Event Centre will be located in downtown Steinbach and will replace the Steinbach Centennial Arena. The multi-use facility will connect to the existing community plaza, T.G. Smith Arena, Steinbach Curling Club, and theatre. Physical construction of the facility is set to begin this month and the anticipated completion date for the project is November of 2024.
“In collaboration with local municipalities, our Government continues to make important investments in modern recreation infrastructure that keeps our communities vibrant and healthy. Recreational infrastructure, like the City of Steinbach’s Southeast Event Centre, is essential to creating communities that are welcoming and sustainable,” said the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, “This space will accommodate a wide range of activities and events and will be an important piece of Steinbach’s downtown renewal to benefit the community and residents for years to come.”
“The Southeast Event Centre is a long awaited project that will improve the lives of residents today and for generations,” said the Honourable Kelvin Goertzen, Manitoba Minister of Justice, Attorney General and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Steinbach. “The Centre is the result of community leaders, the private sector, and all levels of government coming together to improve the region and province.”
“This is truly a project where all levels of government and the community have been able to work together and collaborate on making such a great event centre possible,” said Mayor Earl Funk. “I and all of City Council are proud to be part of this project, but there were many councils before us that saw this vision… The groundbreaking for me is really exciting because it’s the start— we’re finally starting. We’re going to be able to turn the sod over and this project is moving forward.”
In 2021, the Government of Canada and Province of Manitoba announced a combined funding contribution of up to $17.5 million through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP). At time of project approval, the estimated total project cost of the Southeast Event Centre was $42.5 million. In November of 2022, Steinbach City Council awarded the Southeast Event Centre construction contract to Graham Construction and Engineering Inc., with an updated estimated total project cost of $66.2 million. Through a combination of reserve funds, operating funds and debt, the City will provide funding for the facility of $23.2 million, with the remaining $25.5 million expected to come from private and community fundraising coordinated by the Southeast Events Group Inc.
As the project proceeds and details become available, updates will be shared through the City of Steinbach website and social media accounts.
The City of Steinbach would like to thank the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and Southeast Events Group Inc. for their contributions to this project.
The groundbreaking event for the new Southeast Event Centre took place on Friday, January 27th, 2023. The event began at 1:30pm and featured remarks from local government and community representatives.
Watch the Past Livestream Read more on the Southeast Event Centre
