Island Savings Centre

The Island Savings Centre^[1] (formerly the Cowichan Centre) is a recreational centre serving Duncan, British Columbia. It has a pool, theater, arena, and gymnasium. It was built in 1978, on the former site of the Cowichan Curling Rink.^[2] Island Savings, "Vancouver Island's Credit Union", donated $1 Million CDN to the centre in exchange for a 10-year naming rights deal.

Cowichan Theatre

The Cowichan Theatre is a 731-seat theatre.^[3] It is the primary venue for large plays in the Cowichan Valley. The Theatre is the tallest part of the building (dwarfing the Hockey Stick), as it is the big rectangle box when seen from the outside.

Cowichan Aquatic Centre

The Cowichan Aquatic Centre^[4] is the new swimming pool facility for North Cowichan, completed for the 2008 North American Indigenous Games. Controversy has arisen due to the building site, as it blocks the World's Largest Hockey Stick from sight when travelling northbound on Route 1

Cowichan Valley Arena

Island Savings Centre

The Stick
Location	2687 James St. Duncan, BC
Owner	City of Duncan
Capacity	Hockey: 2,040 (1,350 seated)[5]
Opened	1978
Tenants
Cowichan Valley Capitals (BCHL) (1980-1984, 1988-1990, 1993-Present)

The Cowichan Valley Arena is a 2,040-seat multipurpose arena in Duncan, British Columbia, adjoined to the Island Savings Centre. It is home to the Cowichan Valley Capitals ice hockey team of the British Columbia Hockey League. Next to the Arena is the Island Savings Gymnasium.

The Heritage Hall is a large hall upstairs connected to the Arena; it is a "Hall of Fame" for the Capitals and all the professional hockey players who come from Duncan.

Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks have hosted their Training Camp at least three times in Duncan, 1980, 1984 and 1986.

"World's Biggest Hockey Stick & Puck"

Mounted on the eastern wall of the arena is a 62 m (205 ft) Hockey Stick, and Puck; the stick was declared the World's Biggest by Guinness World Records. Built in 1985, at Penticton, British Columbia, and modelled after Tony Tanti's stick, The Stick & Puck originally adorned the entrance to Expo '86, albeit a slightly different pose, beside the "Largest Flagpole". A society to get the Stick to Duncan was launched after Expo 86 ended, the attempt was successful and funds were obtained to pay for the dismantling, transportation, and reconstruction of the stick. The Stick was dedicated on May 21, 1988, 2 years and 1 day after Expo '86 opened.

The Stick dwarfs the one at Eveleth, Minnesota by 29 metres (Eveleth's is 33 m/110 ft), however Guinness originally said the Minnesota hockey stick was the largest as it was constructed from pure wood, while the Expo stick had a steel framework. On July 12, 2008, they reversed their decision and the Duncan stick was declared the world's largest.

Arena upgrades

On November 2008, the Capitals & the Island Savings Centre Commission jointly bought a Centaur Products H-2105 scoreboard to bring the arena up to Junior "A" standards. The Island Savings Centre joins a growing list of BCHL arenas to have a centre-ice hung scoreboard.^[6]

Arena image gallery

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  Former exterior signage, now has new siding

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  Hockey Stick Facts

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  The Stick, from Expo '86

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  Old Bleachers before 2007-08 BCHL Season

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  North End

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  Centre, Looking at East End

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  Centre, luxury boxes

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  South End, balcony & boxes

References