Island Savings Center

The Island Savings Centre [https://www.iscu.com/SharedContent/documents/PressRelease/PR_ISCentre.pdf] (formerly the Cowichan Centre) is a recreational centre serving North Cowichan, British Columbia. It has a pool, theater, arena, gymnasium. It was built in 1978, on the former site of the Cowichan Curling Rink. [Common knowledge of the late 50's tells of a "Curling Rink" located where the arena is] . 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 theater [http://www.cowichancentre.bc.ca/dcimages/Guide/main.pdf PDF File] . It is the primary venue for large plays in the Cowichan Valley. The Theater is the tallest part of the building (dwarfing the Hockey Stick), as it is the big rectangal box when seen from the outside.

Cowichan Aquannis Pool

The Cowichan Aquannis Pool is the swimming pool of the Island Savings Centre, its size does not suit large scale events due to its small 25 M primary swimming pool.

Cowichan Aquatic Centre

The "Cowichan Aquatic Centre" [http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/cowichannewsleader/news/16596441.html] will be the new swimming pool facility for North Cowichan, being built 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

infobox Stadium
stadium_name=Island Savings Centre
nickname="The Stick"


location=2687 James St. Duncan, BC
opened=1978
owner=?
tenants=Cowichan Valley Capitals (BCHL) (1980-1984, 1988-1990, 1993-Present)
seating_capacity=Hockey: 2,040 (1,350 seated) [The Cowichan Citizen newspaper had a article about the installation of the seats in 2007. It said "1,350 plastic seats" specifically]

The Cowichan Valley Arena is a 2,040-seat multipurpose arena in North Cowichan, British Columbia, adjoined to the Island Savings Centre. It is home to the Cowichan Valley Capitals ice hockey team of the BCHL (Tier II). 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-metre (205 ft) Hockey Stick, and Puck, now officially the World's Biggest since July 12th, 2008. Built in 1985, at Penticton, BC, 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 where funds were obtained to pay for the dismantling, transportation, and reconstruction of the stick. The stick was dedicated on May 21, 1988, 1 day and 2 years after Expo '86 opened.

The Stick dwarfs the one at Eveleth, MN by 29 metres (Eveleth's is 33 M/110 ft), although Guinness originally said the Minnesota hockey stick was the largest until July 12th, 2008. Reasons stated by Guinness at the time were that the Minnesota stick was pure wood, while the Expo stick was made with Douglas Fir "reinforced with steel".

Arena Image Gallery

References