On again, off again. It’s the ongoing saga of a potential multiplex, new arena or performing arts centre in Steinbach. We have followed all city council resolutions, motions and voting as well as budgets, planning and construction. Here’s a chronological look at the last many years of this hot button issue in our city.

December 2009

Mayor Chris Goertzen suggests that the blocks east of the T.G. Smith Arena could be eventually used for a recreational site. The City of Steinbach had been purchasing properties along that stretch of Elmdale Drive for nearly 15 years at this point. 

2010

Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen tasks a group of local business and community-minded people to research the topic of a multiplex. The Southeast Multiplex Committee, chaired by Paul Neustaedter, took a regional approach towards bringing all the components together to one facility; including wellness and health, convention space, hotel, auditorium, curling and hockey.

Included in the study, a report from Meyers Norris Penny saying that with all the pieces of the multiplex, it would be too congested to try and fit that all downtown. The Southeast Multiplex Committee’s report would never be released to the public.

March 2011

The Steinbach Arts Council address city councillors and ask for a one thousand seat performing arts centre to be considered a priority. Ideally, the concert venue would include space for Arts Centre programs as well. Mayor Chris Goertzen acknowledges that new cultural and recreational facilities are part of the city’s strategic priorities over the next 4 years. 

February 2012

City Council gives unanimous preliminary approval to a new budget that would significantly increase property taxes, in the range of nine or ten per cent, that year. The significant spending increases include setting aside $800,000.00 for future recreational and cultural facility renewal. The City of Steinbach continues to buy up more property along Elmdale Drive, spending at least $1.7 million over the next few years.

Read More:
306 Barkman for $154,900
346 Hanover for $212,000
375 Elmdale for $200,000
316 Hanover for $230,000
388 Hanover for $260,000
385 Elmdale for $355,000
320 Hanover for $285,000

June 2012

Steinbach City Council announces that a multiplex, built in phases starting with a curling club, would be constructed downtown. The city plans to have $5.5 million dollars in place for a multiplex by 2014. SCU announces that it would give the city $1.2 million dollars towards acquiring the naming rights of a new multiplex. At the same time, the city agrees to sell several parcels of land to Steinbach Credit Union so it has enough parking for its new building. The $1.3 million from the sale goes into a reserve fund for a new recreation and cultural multiplex to be built downtown. The city also offers to sell the curling rink to the Credit Union for $295,000 and then build a new curling rink in cooperation with the Steinbach Curling Club. 

July 2012

The old Keystone Cinema on Main Street in Steinbach closes its doors. When the final credits of the final movie roll, there are no plans to relocate or rebuild.

November 2012

Mayor Chris Goertzen appoints Councillor Jac Siemens to Chair a new Multiplex Advisory Group.

September 2013

Representatives from the Steinbach Pistons come before city council to plead their case for a new arena. They explain the current ice they play on is 18 feet shorter and a few feet more narrow than a regulation arena.

November and December 2013

The announcement is made that the new curling rink would also include a new movie theatre. One month later, tenders for the new curling rink come in $2 million over budget.

January 2014

City council votes 5-2 in favour of increasing the budget for the new curling facility by $1 million to $6.7 million. Councillors Susan Penner and Earl Funk vote against the plan citing over-budget spending and concerns that the city is getting into the business of building private clubs and commercial development. Construction begins in February on what is being called “Phase One of the multiplex”.  

April 2014

Steinbach Curling Club holds its “Goodbye Bonspiel”. Meanwhile, after four years of talk about a recreational and cultural multiplex in Steinbach, Mayor Chris Goertzen said that 2014 was the year council will do research and planning. After hearing from the Steinbach Arts Council, the mayor acknowledges the need for a newer arts programming building. 

February 2015

While the new Keystone Cinema opens with a showing of “Paddington’, Steinbach City Council invests an additional $3.9 million dollars to give the two blocks of Elmdale Street in front of the arenas, and part of Lumber Avenue, a significant facelift. Some of the funding comes from a reserve set aside for the project and $2.38 million was borrowed over five years. The total for the curling rink, theatre and landscaping is now at $10.6 million, not including land purchases. 

April 2015

Proposals for a new sports and cultural multiplex in Steinbach are unveiled at city council. Stantec Consulting presents three options, all costing about $70 million. Sports and arts community representatives give feedback to City Council with both groups excited about the possibilities of the future facility.  

May 2015

Residents of Steinbach are given a chance to ask questions concerning plans for the multiplex at an open house at City Hall. One of the biggest concerns raised is the issue of parking downtown. Meanwhile, construction moves along with the new curling rink. The building is to be finished in time for curling season in October. https://steinbachonline.com/local/parking-a-concern-for-steinbach-multiplex https://steinbachonline.com/local/curling-rink-coming-along

July 2015

After construction on the new curling rink is complete, some issues with an uneven floor were discovered. The city decides to accept the construction as is.

October 2015

Steinbach Parks and Recreation puts more money into the Centennial Arena as the 50 year-old building shows its age. Russ Dyck lists off upgrades to washrooms and entrance costing, mentioning challenges with the ceiling, lighting and problems with humidity. Costs for repairs are listed at about $160,000.

November 2015

Mayor Chris Goertzen announces a Mayor's Task Force on Public Consultation, comprised of councillors Susan Penner, Cari Penner and Michael Zwaagstra, regarding new recreation and cultural facilities. Michael Zwaagstra says, while city council has already decided a performing arts centre is the first priority, the public will have influence on location and future phases. The City Of Steinbach turns Lumber Avenue into a one-way street from Credit Union Driveway to Elmdale Street.  

January 2016

The City Of Steinbach hires NRG Research Group to conduct two surveys to gather public opinion on new cultural and recreational facilities. 

March 2016

The Mayor's Task Force on Public Engagement for Recreation and Cultural Facilities presents its report to city council. In the online portion of the survey, only 45% supported the City of Steinbach spending $7.5 million, 54% of respondents opposed building a Performing Arts Centre downtown and 68% believed the P.A.C. should include day-to-day programming. In the telephone portion of the survey, 66% agreed with the City of Steinbach capping spending at $7.5 million, 84% believed the P.A.C. should include day-to-day programming and 58% supported a downtown location.

Meanwhile, parking near the T.G. Smith Centre continued to be a concern, especially for parents of minor hockey players. 

April 2016

City council votes to drop the concept of a multiplex in Steinbach. Councillor Susan Penner introduces a resolution for the city to change direction and should ahead with a performing arts centre downtown. With only Mayor Chris Goertzen and Deputy Mayor John Fehr opposed, the other 5 councillors feel Steinbach could not afford the $70-$100 million multiplex plans revealed the previous April. Paul Neustaedter says Steinbach city council has broken its promise when it comes to planning for a multiplex. He says the city is missing a real opportunity to build recreation and cultural facilities all at one location which would be the most cost-effective option.  

November 2016

The new Community Plaza in front of the new curling rink and theatre officially opens. Hundreds gather to see the unveiling of the Canada 150 Mural and the ribbon cutting. 

December 2016

The City of Steinbach releases more details about the proposed Performing Arts Centre. Stantec consulting says the facility is estimated to cost $24.3 million with the cost of the building at $17.9 million plus $6.4 million for site development, equipment and engineering services. Mayor Chris Goertzen says the $24.3 million price tag is surprising. He says that applications are in to federal and provincial for an additional $7.5 million each. That would make for a total of $22.5 million with the remaining $1.8 million to be raised by the local arts community.  

Councillors Susan Penner and Michael Zwaagstra say it's time to scrap the idea of a performing arts centre. They both feel that it’s unrealistic to expect $15 million from the two other levels of government.

In what would be the final Steinbach City Council meeting of 2016, council reaffirmed its commitment of $7.5 million for a Performing Arts Centre with an expiry date of June 30, 2017. Council approved the motion by a vote of 4-3 with councillors Susan Penner, Michael Zwaagstra and Earl Funk against it. 

January 2017

The city has moved on from the idea of an all-in-one multiplex. If the other funds for a $24 million P.A.C. come through by June 30th, it will be built next to the curling rink, theatre and community plaza. At that point, the total dollars invested in that area will be around $40 million. Arts programming will remain in the current building and the Centennial Arena will celebrate its 50th birthday. The Steinbach Arts Council has the new Performing Arts Centre as their focus in the new year.

July 2017

Steinbach City Council decides against extending its June 30th deadline regarding the future of a proposed Performing Arts Centre. Funding lapsed June 30th after there was no word on $15 million worth of grant applications from the federal and provincial governments. Council will continue its commitment to set aside money in a recreation and cultural reserve for future projects.

Understandably, the board of the Steinbach Arts Council is extremely disappointed with city council's decision to nix plans for a performing arts centre. Board Chair Graham Pollock says the SAC would have at least liked to find out whether or not the project would receive any funding from the federal or provincial governments before the plans were scrapped. There was a small ray of hope in that the private funding and the fundraising being done by the Friends of SPAC was yielding positive results.

October 2017

The Steinbach Arts Council has not given up on getting a performing arts centre. Representatives meet with city council and discussed the matter for the first time since the project was cancelled by the city at the end of June due to a lack of federal and provincial funding. City council was asked whether a performing arts centre is still a possibility. and the answer wasn't 'no'.

September-October 2018

With a municipal election looming and Mayor Chris Goertzen not running, the three mayoral and city council candidates spelled out their vision for a multiplex in Steinbach.

Nearing the close of the 2018 Municipal Election campaign, HyLife commits five million dollars for a multiplex facility including an arena, field house, and cultural arts centre all under one roof. Hylife was very clear that mayoral candidate Paul Neustaedter’s vision was the one they were supporting.

One-term councillor Earl Funk took 42% of the votes to claim victory. His plan for a future multiplex was a more affordable facility because previous large multiplex plans have been out of reach financially.

December 2018

Steinbach city council puts funding into place to continue its rebuild part of Elmdale Street. The street will be reconstructed and includes the replacement of all the underground water and sewer infrastructure. There will also be some re-design work required to make it consistent with the previous reconstruction of other parts of Elmdale in front of the arena, curling rink and movie theatre.

January 2019

The community gets to see the possibilities of Elmdale Plaza as Steinbach hosts Hockey Day In Canada. Previously, city planners from across Canada had given the Elmdale meeting place high marks for it's design and intention for connecting people.

April 2019

While Steinbach's multiplex project is on hold, the town of Niverville receives more than $11 million in funding for their multiplex project. Federal and provincial governments contributed to the project that would include a performing arts centre, not-for-profit community childcare centre, field house, leisure activity spaces, an indoor play area, arena, meeting rooms, and community common areas. The shovel would go in the ground in July 2019.

September 2019

A frustrated Reeve of Hanover took issue with the City of Steinbach when it came to thinking regionally. Stan Toews said a group of investors approached Hanover wanting to build a large event centre. Hanover and Steinbach would be asked to provide $10 million each, with the remaining $40 million coming from private investors as well as potential funding from the upper levels of government. Hanover was interested but in mid-July Steinbach said they did not want Hanover at the table.

October 2019

Steinbach city council gives unanimous support for a new $42.5 million arena and events centre. Southeast Events Centre, a non-profit organization, presented a plan to build an 82,500 square foot facility on the site of the current Centennial Arena. It would include a 2,500 seat arena, field house and public indoor walking track. SEC will put up $15 million in private funding while the city has committed $10 million plus about $500,000 per year for operating costs. The plan is contingent on getting $17.5 million dollars in federal and provincial funding.

November 2019

Steinbach Mayor Earl Funk and city council meet for their annual fall study session. This included extensive discussions about the proposed events centre. They are committed to moving ahead and meeting with federal and provincial ministers. "We are getting very positive feedback. It's very encouraging."

November 2020

Despite being in the middle of a global pandemic, Mayor Funk is still optimistic about the other forms of government stepping up to help finance this project.

May 2021

After 25 years of purchasing properties in the downtown core, the City of Steinbach shelled out nearly half a million dollars for a home sitting on the last parcel of land needed for the new events centre.

July 26, 2021

In a press conference in the TG Smith Plaza, government officials have confirmed funding for the new Southeast Events Centre. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2023.

For those involved in the announcement of the new Southeast Event Centre, this day marked the culmination of a lot of work. 'Partnership' was one of the words repeated as different governments and private organizations pulled together to make this happen.