Dynamic Community Hub: Peterborough's Miskin Law Community Complex is now open

Peterborough, ON – The City of Peterborough officially opened the new Miskin Law Community Complex today, Wednesday, January 15, 2025, with an event that welcomed community members to explore the new facility, participate in activities, and celebrate a new Indigenous public art installation.

The grand opening of the new complex at Lansdowne and Park streets includes free public skating, a yoga class, opportunities to view the art installation, and a chance to try out the indoor walking track.

The 121,500-square-foot facility features a twin-pad arena, an indoor walking track, multi-purpose spaces, and leasable office space. A Peterborough Public Library branch is set to open in February 2025. The complex aims to be a resilient community hub, offering exceptional experiences for residents, user groups, and sport tourism event organizers.

“Today, we celebrate a moment more than a decade in the making. The opening of the Miskin Law Community Complex is the result of the cumulative effort and dedication of City staff, community supporters, and past and present City councils,” said Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal. “This facility provides dynamic spaces like the twin-pad arena and walking track to help people be active, while also serving as a source for inspiration with a new library branch and public art installation.”

Sustainable design and energy efficiency

Construction of the $68.5-million facility began in December 2022. The project prioritized sustainability, health, and wellness through an integrated design process that considered decarbonization during both construction and ongoing operations.

Carbon emissions during construction were minimized by reducing concrete usage, optimizing building envelope materials, and strategically using glazing. Operating emissions were reduced by nearly 40 per cent through features like LED lighting, a water-loop heat pump system with heat recovery from the ice plant, electric ice resurfacers, and ventilation heat recovery systems.

Inspiring spaces: Public art and Library branch

The Miskin Law Community Complex was designed to meet the needs of diverse user groups and demographics. The indoor walking track provides a space for individuals of all ages and abilities to stay active. Meanwhile, a new public art installation builds awareness of Indigenous cultures, heritage, and sport.

Vanessa Dion Fletcher, a celebrated Indigenous artist, created a focal-point art installation in the floor-to-ceiling windows at the main entrance’s two-storey atrium. Supported by sculptor and fabricator Matthew Walker, the work, Resonant Harmony, features three hoops painted with the visual texture, patterns, and colours of quillwork. The installation offers insight into Indigenous teachings, the ethos of sport, and its role in fostering relationships.

A new Peterborough Public Library Branch will open at the complex in February.

Community support

The development of the City’s newest community complex received significant funding from the federal government and local corporate sponsors, totaling more than $9.4 million.

The project was bolstered with more than $8.4 million from the Canada Community-Building Fund, a stable, predictable, and indexed source of federal funding for communities.

In Ontario, the Canada Community-Building Fund is administered by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario twice annually to 443 municipalities with funding allocated on a per-capita basis. The permanency and stability of the Fund allows municipal governments to plan for infrastructure investments and prioritize projects that benefit their communities and improve quality of life for their residents.

Local corporate sponsors were important supporters of the project and contributed a cumulative total of $1 million to the project’s budget. These sponsors include:

• Miskin Law: Secured overall naming rights for the complex for the next 10 years
• Canadian Hockey Enterprises: Secured naming rights for the south arena pad and has entered into an agreement to utilize lease space in the building for its operations
• Russelle Toyota: Secured naming rights for the north arena pad

Opportunities to be active

The ice pads and indoor walking track in the Miskin Law Community Complex are now accessible for Peterborough residents and visitors to enjoy.

Programming includes Learn to Skate programming, parent and tot instructional lessons, and private skating lessons. All ages drop-in public skating will be available on Sundays from 3 p.m. to 4:50 p.m., and youth shinny hockey will run on Tuesday evenings from 6:15 p.m. to 7:05 p.m.

Miskin will also be the location for two upcoming hockey tournaments in January, including the Steve Richey Tournament of Champions and the Peterborough Hockey Association Tournament.

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