We've been hearing a few recurring questions from the community, so here are some updates on several ongoing projects and initiatives.

Kraft Hockeyville

We know the community is excited for updates following Taber's incredible Kraft Hockeyville win.

Right now, planning and coordination work is taking place behind the scenes between the Town of Taber and the Kraft Hockeyville team. Large national initiatives like Hockeyville involve extensive planning, scheduling, logistics, and coordination between multiple organizations, which means announcements and updates are often spread out over many months.

While there may be periods with fewer public updates, work is continuing behind the scenes. The Town will share information as details are finalized, timelines are confirmed by all partners, and whenever we have authorization to release information.

We appreciate the community's patience and excitement as Taber continues through this once-in-a-generation opportunity. We do not have any new information to share at this time, except to say there are still many exciting Hockeyville moments ahead throughout late 2026 and into 2027. We look forward to sharing more when the time comes.

Community Centre / Arena Update

It's been a little while since we checked in at the Community Centre, and we're pleased to have several updates to share.

Asbestos abatement throughout the entire Community Centre has been underway over the past several months and has now been completed.

Repairs to the wall between the Large Ice and Small Ice arenas are now underway. The Town of Taber has set an internal goal of reopening the Large Ice by August 1, and we believe that target remains achievable, provided repairs continue as planned. While we cannot make an official commitment at this stage, August 1 remains our target date.

There is still no confirmed completion date for repairs to the Curling Club.

No decisions have been made regarding the future of the Small Ice Arena or the Community Centre as a whole. Those decisions will be considered after the Recreation Feasibility Study is complete.

The feasibility study is expected to be presented to Council in Fall 2026. It will provide information on future options for the facility, with Council deliberations taking place following the presentation.

To see photos of the work happening in the Arena, scroll to the bottom of the page. 

PlayOn! Tournament Financial Results

We've also received a number of questions about the financial results of the PlayOn! Street Hockey Tournament.

Final financial reconciliation has now been completed:

• Revenue: Approximately $143,000
• Expenses: Approximately $125,000
• Net proceeds: Approximately $18,000 for the Community Centre

Beyond the financial contribution, the tournament brought hundreds of participants and visitors to Taber, supported local businesses, gave players the opportunity to play alongside some of their hockey idols, and created a memorable community event that many residents have told us they would like to see return.

Most importantly, the tournament achieved its primary objective of bringing hockey and joy back to the community after months without ice availability following the Community Centre incident.

Administration has also considered community feedback regarding the future of the event. Any future PlayOn! tournament would require budget consideration and approval by Council through the annual budget process.

Future Updates & Information

We appreciate the community's patience as we continue working through these projects. While public updates may sometimes be limited, that doesn't mean progress has stopped. Much of the work happens behind the scenes and with third-party organizations, and we'll continue sharing updates as milestones are reached and information becomes available.

Arena Photos