Pieces of Centennial Arena live on at Southeast Event Centre

Some of the Southeast Event Centre’s (SEC) benches are made from the wooden rafters of the previous building on the property, the Centennial Arena.

The arena was built in 1967 and demolished in June 2023.

Part of its structure was repurposed and is now in the facility that replaced it.

“It goes far beyond sports,” said Michelle Sawatzky-Koop, director of communications marketing & sales of SEC.

She said the same wood held families, friends, and teammates that were sitting together. It witnessed relationships forming. The coming together of those relationships under that wood are still there.

There are six wooden benches made from the Centennial Arena’s rafters, with the majority located under the stairs near Forum & Bistro. Around five more are expected to be added.

Benches will also be placed along the upcoming heritage wall.

Sawatzky-Koop said while visitors are reading about the history, they are also sitting on it.

Russ Dyck, manager of Parks & Recreation at the City of Steinbach, said a month before the demolition, his team already intended to recycle the materials from the building.

“It keeps the connection and honour to the past,” said Dyck.“It used to be up at our heads, but now we’re sitting on it.”

A mini bench, also made from the rafters, was installed near the sports gallery.