Merivale Centennial Arena, renamed for Ottawa 67's owner Howard Darwin three years after his death
On the Thanksgiving weekend of 1965, township officials opened the Merivale and Bell Centennial Arenas, the first two centennial projects in Canada. Merivale, beside Merivale High School, was the first declared open. The Merivale Centennial Arena was renamed the Howard Darwin Centennial Arena three years after Darwin's death. Columns by Earl McRae urging the City of Ottawa to honour Darwin with a permanent memorial spearheaded the renaming.
Darwin (1931–2009) was an Ottawa-born businessman and sports team owner. In 1967, with four partners, he bought the franchise for the Ottawa 67's. He managed the team, hired Brian Kilrea in 1974, and saw the 67's win the Memorial Cup in 1984. In 1968 he bought the London Nationals and renamed them the London Knights. In 1993 he brought the triple-A Ottawa Lynx baseball club to the city, and it won the International League championship in 1995.
Admission, rentals and arrival details, researched from official rink information. Source checks stay current for 30 days.
Basic skating, including HST: adult CA$5.85; child, youth or student CA$3.50; senior CA$4.40; family CA$3.50 per person. Specialized skating and hockey use a separate, higher Plus rate. Specialized skating and hockey (Plus rate, including HST): child, youth or student CA$6.20; adult CA$10.35; senior CA$7.75.
Source checked · · Official source
Bring exact change or a valid membership. At this stand-alone arena, the attendant cannot make change or accept credit or debit cards.
Source checked · · Official source
At public and family skates, children 10 and under must be actively supervised by a parent or guardian aged 14 or older. Children 10 and under must wear a CSA-certified hockey helmet to be allowed on the ice at City indoor arenas (bicycle, ski and snow-sport helmets are not allowed), and children may not be carried on the ice.
Source checked · · Official source
On-site parking is available.
Source checked · · Official source
E-Z gliders are permitted as a skating aid during family and public skating. Wheelchairs and strollers stay along the boards, with sand and salt cleaned off the wheels, and wheelchair and stroller occupants over 12 months need a CSA-approved helmet.
Source checked · · Official source
A source check records what the rink published on that date. Session-specific booking details take precedence.
