Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre Getting Refrigeration Upgrades this Summer

The City of St. Catharines is committed to ensuring our community’s recreation facilities are maintained to the highest standard. As part of this ongoing commitment, Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre will undergo a major refrigeration system replacement from June to August 2025.

This $1.7-million project, approved in the 2024-2026 Multi-Year Capital Budget, will include the replacement of the refrigeration plant, compressors, and cooling towers. These components are beyond their expected lifespan and must be replaced to prevent unexpected breakdowns and interruptions to the refrigeration equipment during peak ice usage. The work is essential to ensuring the long-term functionality of the facility, home to four ice surfaces that serve countless hockey leagues, tournaments, and recreational skaters throughout the year.

As a result of this necessary work, the ice pads will be unavailable for approximately 12 weeks. This will mark the first summer in many years that Seymour-Hannah will not offer summer ice programs, impacting hockey leagues, camps, and public skating programs. Based on historical facility usage data, staff have determined this is the optimal timeframe to complete the work with the least disruption.

The City has provided as much notice as possible directly to impacted groups, including hockey leagues, camps, and tournament organizers, to help them plan accordingly. Alternative programming, such as pickleball and other non-ice recreational activities, will be offered as often as possible on the dry-floor pads during the summer shutdown.

This project, part of the City’s larger asset management strategy, will ensure that Seymour-Hannah continues to be a premier destination for ice sports in St. Catharines for many years to come.

Updates on the project will be available at stcatharines.ca/SeymourHannah and on the City’s social media channels.