Saint-Laurent’s Administration is very pleased to announce that women’s Olympic hockey champions Danièle Sauvageau and Kim St-Pierre are serving as ambassadors for the reopening of the Aréna Raymond-Bourque. In particular, they will take part in the grand celebrations, scheduled for Saturday, September 3, 2022, to mark the inauguration of this renovated building.
They are both connected to Saint-Laurent, as Danièle Sauvageau was a police officer in the borough for a number of years and Kim St-Pierre lives here, where her children are members of the Saint-Laurent Hockey Club.
“As I often say, to lead a team to victory, you have to accept the challenges and work as a team in the face of adversity. It is probably also this formula that the Saint-Laurent teams and the hired firms used to achieve these spectacular results at the Aréna Raymond-Bourque. I’m proud and happy, also as a former Saint-Laurent police officer, to promote this new ice sports venue in order to encourage young people to take part in sports activities. I look forward to seeing all of you there on September 3 for the inauguration celebrations!” – Danièle Sauvageau
“Hockey is my passion and this sport has given me some of the best emotions of my life. Being able to pass on this happiness to young people today, especially in my own Saint-Laurent community where I live and where my children play hockey, gives me immense pleasure! They are lucky to have the benefit of the renovated Aréna Raymond-Bourque–a beautiful, modern, perfect setting to play hockey. So join us on September 3 to celebrate—all together—this new temple for ice sports!” – Kim St-Pierre
Details of the improvements to the Raymond Bourque Arena
Targeting the refurbishment of all spaces and the upgrading of electro-mechanical systems to meet current standards, the renovations—which began in September 2019—will make it possible to attain nearly 40% energy savings for this project aiming for LEED Silver certification.
Saint-Laurent sports enthusiasts will have the pleasure of discovering the new ice rinks during the public skating activity that begins on July 22. Note that both rinks—named A and B—have been completely rebuilt with a new scoreboard and an even better pro shop. Rink A has even had its 1,144 seats replaced and Rink B, new bleachers. Users will also appreciate the lobby, featuring a wood design, in keeping with the original construction.
The Aréna Raymond-Bourque is also more accessible and inclusive, as the places reserved for people in wheelchairs are now located in the middle of the two rinks. Other improvements have been made, as well, in order to consolidate universal accessibility, including a one-level entrance.
The staff and the three Saint-Laurent clubs that use the rinks will not be overlooked either. Hockey Saint-Laurent, the Figure Skating Club (CPA Saint-Laurent), and Ringuette Saint-Laurent will benefit from renovated dressing rooms and offices.
As for the people accompanying them, and parents in particular, they will now be able to wait while enjoying a much more user-friendly and health-focused food and beverage area, due to the fact that since 2008, “trans fat” foods, fried foods and sugary drinks have been eliminated.
Most importantly, the renovations have made it possible to maximize energy savings with energy-efficient LED lighting, for example. Since 2000, the borough has also been a pioneer in the use of resurfacers, since it has acquired two electric machines that emit no greenhouse gases. Just like the refrigeration system, which moreover uses six times less ammonia, thereby increasing safety.
Last but not least, the Aréna Raymond-Bourque is among the first in Québec to have installed a settling basin that makes it possible to accumulate paint residues suspended in the water when the ice melts in the spring. This reduces the turbidity of the water that is sent to the treatment plant, thereby facilitating the processing of the water that is sent to it from all arenas during the same period of time.
These renovations are, in fact, among the borough’s priority projects for 2022, in accordance with the 2022-2025 strategic plan and the climate emergency plan, including a component for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from municipal buildings.
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