The Disappearing Landmark of Moose Jaw, SK

                  The Moose Jaw Civic Centre will soon become a part of history, but not to be forgotten. A defining Moose Jaw landmark since 1959, the Civic Centre will long be remembered as one of the most iconic and authentically Moose Javian structures ever built within the city. Most from Moose Jaw will remember it as the crushed can and though it was primarily used for WHL hockey, we who grew up here know that it was much more than that.

The arena sat 3,150 (and many more who were willing to stand) and was designed by architect Joseph Pettick. It won the Massey Medal for architecture and was highly noted for its’ innovative design, cost effectiveness, and energy efficiency. Interestingly, Mr. Pettick passed away in 2010 and will not be around for the demolition of his amazing piece of work. The rest of us will look on as the city and its’ skyline continue to change.

I personally will remember this building forever. Born in Moose Jaw, it has always been a part of my life. Everything from Warrior games with friends and friends on the roof as a teen, to photographing the Warriors hockey as an adult, and now to photographing the building as a professional will remain as positive memories as long as I live. The Civic Centre has always been a unique part of the city I grew up in and it’s hard to imagine the skyline without it. All technical aspects aside, it truly is an eye-catching piece of architecture. The beautiful swoop of the roofline is complimented by the repeating pillars and bricks all unified by the striking symmetry of the building itself. As the sun sets at night, it is seemingly cradled in the hammock of the roof (see below) and once lower casts a beautiful orange glow upon the structure. I think it’s something we should all be proud to have had around for this long.

We’ve shared victories and losses, hopes and dreams, and failures as well as success within the four walls of the Civic Centre. The roar of a Warrior crowd is unmistakable and though sound no longer fills the building on a regular basis, the memories remain. And thanks to the new Mosaic Place arena, those memories can continue on!

As sad as I am to see the Civic Center go, I’d rather see it go quickly than slowly dilapidate. The plans for the new Civic Centre Plaza do look exciting, and it’s great to see that they’ll be trying to mimic the look of the Civic Centre. Our city seems to be headed in a wonderful direction and I’m excited to see what we become!