Kincardine gearing up to celebrate 50th anniversary of the Davidson Centre

The Municipality of Kincardine is preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Davidson Centre in Kincardine, next year.

In an information report to council at the meeting Wednesday night (Dec. 11), Mike Di Giovanni, manager of parks and facilities, stated that a series of events is being planned, culminating in a Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni game. This game and other events will be excellent opportunities for the community to gather and celebrate the Davidson Centre as one of the focal points for recreation in the municipality.

In the report, Di Giovanni said the Davidson Centre has had a long history as the focal point for recreation in Kincardine.

Construction of the structure, formerly known as the Kincardine and District Community Centre, began in 1975. The official opening was to be held in September of 1975, but after several delays, the first event was held in November of 1975, with the grand opening held in July of 1976.

Since the first public use of the facility in November, 1975, countless events and people have been through the building, making it a true community centre. In celebration of this 50-year history, community services staff is co-ordinating several community events over the course of 2025, with the highlight being the Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni hockey game.

While planning is still in the early stages, said Di Giovanni, staff expects to host the alumni hockey game in September of 2025, with other events that celebrate areas of the facility outside the arena, in the weeks leading up to the game. The content of the supporting events has not yet been determined but they will focus on areas, such as the pool and gymnasium.

As part of the 2025 operating budget, council is being asked to allocate $30,000 to cover the costs associated with the alumni hockey game. However, staff expects the hockey game to be cost-neutral through a combination of sponsorship opportunities, ticket sales, local partnerships and revenue-generating opportunities offered by the Leafs Alumni Association.

Staff will update council periodically on the progress of the event planning. Staff has been working on a logo (above) that will be used to celebrate the occasion, and will be featured on staff uniforms, the Davidson Centre ice pad, and letterhead.

Di Giovanni said staff will be engaging in conversations with user groups, community groups, and local businesses to determine if there is interest in supporting the event in various capacities. The initial consultation will be with Kincardine’s ice user groups, such as the Kincardine Bulldogs, Kincardine Minor Hockey, and the Kincardine Skating Club, to determine levels of support in helping the event be a success.

Staff will also be seeking sponsorships and volunteers who are interested in supporting various aspects of the celebration.