Wasaga Beach Twin Pad Arena and Library Tour
I recently met with Wasaga Beach CAO Andrew McNeill, Deputy CAO – Special Projects Gerry Marshall and Director of Recreation & Facilities Chris Roos to talk about various issues and initiatives that are currently underway and in the planning stages within the community. “This impressive new facility will serve the needs of the residents of Wasaga Beach for years to come.”
Artist rendition of the new Wasaga Beach Twin Pad Arena and Library
We visited various Wasaga Beach town sites including the new Twin Pad Arena and Library, Beach Areas 1 and 2 and the beachfront retail district. CAO McNeill and I had a conversation about the current condition of the Nancy Island Historic Site. This site has served as an historic site since 1928 and is the most viable site to the War of 1812 in Simcoe County and the Georgian Bay region.
Library
The new state-of-the-art Wasaga Beach Public Library will feature traditional library programming with many new features and special programming opportunities including work tables and laptop bars, community meeting rooms/boardroom, movable partition walls, public computer stations, smaller study rooms, children’s program room and indoor play room, Youth Zone with virtual reality and gaming pod, kitchen area and a digital lab for 3D printing, music, film recording and editing.
A large public area will be able to be quickly converted into a private function room for meetings, weddings, movie nights, award ceremonies, special gatherings and/or larger conferences without interfering with the regular operation of the library or two arenas.
Chris Roos, Director of Recreation & Facilities, speaking to CAO Andrew McNeill and MPP Brian Saunderson in the new library section of the Twin Pad Arena & Library.
Arena 1
Left-to-right: Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson, Wasaga Beach Deputy CAO Gerry Marshall, Director of Recreation & Facilities Chris Roos, Wasaga Beach CAO Andrew McNeill, pictured in the main hall of the new Wasaga Beach Twin Pad Arena & Library complex, nearing completion at 544 River Road West. The large staircase in the background allows for easy access to the viewing areas of both arenas.
Wasaga Beach CAO Andrew McNeill and Deputy CAO Gerry Marshall speaking to Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson from the top of the seating area of the large arena.
Arena 1 will have seating capacity of approximately 900 people with an NHL size ice surface and an abundance of natural light.
The sunken ice surface of Arena 1 will allow for easy viewing from the main lobby area through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Arena 2
Arena 2 features an NHL size ice surface and seating for 200 people
Arena 2 features a fitness walking track around the upper level of the ice surface.
Dressing rooms and public areas are located between the two arenas allowing for easy access to both ice surfaces. An official opening date has yet to be determined but it is hoped the puck can be dropped in the new arenas late this year.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Twin Pad Arena & Library project
Beach Visit
A visit to the Town of Wasaga Beach would not be complete without a walk on the world’s longest freshwater beach.
Wasaga Beach CAO Andrew McNeill, on the world’s longest fresh water beach with Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson
Owner/operator David Cubitt, MPP Brian Saunderson, CAO Andrew McNeill, Deputy CAO Gerry Marshall
World class view, and it is right here in Simcoe-Grey!
Our tour of Wasaga Beach parks and businesses included a stop at one of Simcoe-Grey’s successful micro-breweries, the waterfront Wasaga Beach Brewing Company restaurant at Beach Area 1. Owner/operator David Cubitt greeted us and talked about the busy beachfront restaurant and the craft beer operation throughout the region.