Art Hauser Centre

The Art Hauser Centre is hardly a monument, but it sits at the centre of Prince Albert in a way that many venues do not. It was originally built as the Prince Albert Communiplex, and the name change came only after a local businessman stepped forward with a million-dollar donation. That money did more than put a new sign up; it bought new seats, a centre-ice scoreboard with video boards, and renovated dressing rooms. The building has kept itself relevant by changing its role rather than standing still. The Western Hockey League (WHL) club, the Prince Albert Raiders, have called it home for decades, and their success in the league has not been accidental. The squad took the WHL Championship in 1984-85 and again in 2018-19, while also bringing the Memorial Cup back to the city in the same year as the first league title. Those victories tend to keep the stands full, even if the exact capacity numbers shift depending on whether there are hockey players or a concert promoter in charge.

The centre is not exclusive to hockey. The multi-surface floor allows the space to host the Midget 'AAA' Mintos, the Female Midget 'AAA' Bears, and the Prince Albert Speed Skating Club. In the spring, the arena takes on a different character entirely. The annual Senators Cup midget AAA hockey tournament fills the building, and the atmosphere in the dressing room changes when the visiting teams arrive. Over the years, the venue has also seen artists like Dean Brody, Dwight Yoakam, and Tom Cochrane & Red Rider take the stage. The concert capacity stretches beyond the number of seats available for a game, and the standing room spots disappear into the crowd.

The arena sits on Gary Anderson Way, and while the address might not mean much to a passerby, the building itself is unmistakable. It is a functional space, not a cathedral, which means it is easy to get into. The Raiders' 2019 Memorial Cup run nearly sold out the place, and the local youth teams continue to play there today. The city of Prince Albert has kept the building working for three generations, and that is something that does not happen every day.