Since 1967, the St. James Civic Centre has been a fixture in the community. Featuring a swimming pool, fitness area, and auditorium, it is a cherished space for recreation and connection.
As the surrounding community has grown and evolved, the facility must now, too.
The doors at the St. James Civic Centre closed earlier this week. We expect it to reopen in approximately fall 2026.
“We are excited to bring this much-needed expansion to life,” said Jennifer Sarna, Manager of Recreation Services with the Community Services Department.
The expanded St. James Civic Centre will provide many more decades of fun for the community.
The expansion includes:
- New multi-purpose room and meeting rooms
- A new kitchen
- Improved viewing area for the swimming pool
- Administrative space and shared program space for the St. James Assiniboia 55+ Centre
- Improvements to the auditorium and associated washrooms, and to the main building entry
- Improvements to the parking lot
The facility was recently closed for other critical work and we recognize the impact this has on the community. Closing the facility during the expansion will help us complete the work as quickly as possible. It will also help keep everyone safe. The Ab McDonald Arena will remain open during its regular ice seasons.
We understand the disruption these closures cause to our visitors and thank them for their patience.
Design shaped by community feedback
In 2023 and 2024, we held public engagement sessions with user groups and the general public. We gathered feedback through a series of meetings, surveys, and open houses. We wanted to know how the facility met their needs and what they would like to see in the future. We also gathered feedback on the proposed design.
That feedback was then incorporated into the final design.
“We look forward to welcoming the community back and sharing the transformed space next year,” said Jenn.
For alternate swimming, recreation, and leisure programming during the closure, visit winnipeg.ca/recreation.