msawatzkykoop@southeasteventsgroup.ca

Steinbach city council has given third reading to two borrowing bylaws, approving debt for the Southeast Event Centre (SEC) and for upgrades to the Loewen Boulevard and Highway 12 intersection.

The first bylaw authorizes borrowing to complete construction of the SEC. The Municipal Board has approved the debenture, allowing council to proceed with final approval. The loan will be repaid over five years at an interest rate of 3.83 per cent.

The Steinbach Pistons have turned their home games into full-blown events. From in-house replays, themed nights, live music and competitions, the Southeast Event Centre is a party for Junior A home games.

Kevin Geisheimer was brought on at the beginning of last season as the team’s director of business operations. After a season in La Broquerie and a last-second move back to Steinbach, the Pistons have established themselves in their new rink.

Hundreds of students from local schools filled the Southeast Event Centre (SEC) with cheers during a recent Steinbach Pistons school-day game, an experience educators say left a lasting impression on students.

Community partnership
The outing brought together close to 2,000 students from multiple Hanover School Division (HSD) schools, many of whom were attending a Pistons game for the first time on Monday, Jan. 26.

From the moment students arrived, the atmosphere inside the arena delivered what one school administrator described as a “wow factor.”

Anders Rempel, principal at Elmdale School, says the relationship between the Pistons and HSD is a wonderful community partnership built through Mike Kehler, Team Chaplain for the Steinbach Pistons.

“I feel like we’re part of something really special to have a team with a new arena who wants to fill their building and who wants to build a fan base,” Rempel says.

The Steinbach Pistons partnered with the Southeast Event Centre to create a fun and memorable experience for students across the Southeast.

Pistons Director of Business Operations Kevin Geisheimer explains that a November game against the Winnipeg Blues had been postponed due to weather. After struggling to find a new date, both teams agreed on a mid-day puck drop and decided to turn it into a special event for local schools.

“We did that last year in La Broquerie with a postponed game, and it worked out pretty cool, but now we could do it at a whole other level in this building.”

The Grand Slam of Curling left a lasting impact on Steinbach, generating increased local spending, sold-out hotels and a renewed sense of community pride.

Community response
To better understand the event’s impact, the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce distributed a voluntary survey to local businesses and the community following the event.

“We wanted to reach out to the community and find out what was some of the economic impact that came from this fabulous event,” says Tessa Masi, executive director of the chamber.

The chamber received more than 100 responses to its voluntary survey.

Steinbach took centre stage as the Grand Slam of Curling brought national attention and packed crowds to the Southeast Event Centre.

With the event now wrapped up, SEC staff are reflecting on both the highlights and the challenges that came with hosting a major bonspiel.

Months of preparation paved the way
General Manager Melanie Hiebert says preparation began months in advance, with countless hours spent planning before the first rock was ever thrown.

She adds that the hands-on work intensified on January 2, when the building transformation began.

The Grand Slam of Curling wrapped up as a major success at the Southeast Event Centre (SEC), drawing crowds and international attention.

In the stands, seats were filled with community members, curling fans and local politicians, all eager to see the world’s top athletes compete.

Goertzen says the Grand Slam’s impact went beyond the ice
Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen says it’s wonderful to see this event come to fruition after years of planning.

A major curling event in Steinbach briefly doubled as a movie set Friday night, as a film crew working on a Hollywood production captured scenes during the Grand Slam of Curling at the Southeast Event Centre.

According to a fan that got to spend some time with the stars of the movie, it is titled Sticks and Stones, tells the story of American curler John Shuster. It is focused on his underdog journey to Olympic gold in 2018.

The Grand Slam of Curling will be leaving Steinbach after several incredible days, but Steinbach Curling Club President Cody Bergen believes the impact of having such a great event in the city will be felt for a long, long time.

What a wonderful few days

Throughout the last few days, Bergen says it’s been a group effort from the curling club as they helped in and around the event. “I can’t speak highly enough of how the curling club came together and helped to supply a number of volunteers for this event, and how smoothly the event went. It was just impressive, and I think everybody had a great time, and the whole week was just a tremendous success.”

STEINBACH — Kerri Einarson has waited a long time for a chance to win a Grand Slam of Curling event in her home province.

Unfortunately for the Gimli-based skip, raising a trophy with loads of family and friends in the stands wasn’t meant to be on Sunday as she came up short in a 6-5 loss to Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni in the Players’ Championship final inside Steinbach’s Southeast Event Centre.

Steinbach is hosting some of the best curlers in the world this week, as the Grand Slam of Curling takes over the Southeast Events Centre, drawing elite international teams and dedicated fans from across Canada.

The event is serving as a key tune up for athletes heading to the Olympic Games, while also offering local residents a rare opportunity to watch world class curling without leaving the region.

Young curlers from across the Southeast are soaking in the excitement of elite competition in Steinbach as the Grand Slam of Curling continues.

Steinbach Curling Club Junior Coordinator Gord Oakley says Team Wiebe, the club’s U15 female team, recently qualified for the 2026 Manitoba Winter Games. He adds that hosting a Grand Slam has been an incredible opportunity, allowing the young athletes to watch several games firsthand.

“[It’s] an opportunity to not only watch their hero’s play, they get to meet them in person, get an autograph and picture. These teams are the best in the world.”

The Grand Slam of Curling Players’ Championship is underway at the Southeast Event Centre, featuring a familiar name on the ice.

BJ Neufeld, the son of Steinbach-born professional curler Chris Neufeld, is competing with Mike McEwen’s team, representing Saskatchewan.

BJ usually curls with Reid Carruthers, but that team did not qualify for this event.

He explains that Colton Flasch of Team McEwen reached out a few weeks ago, explaining that Kevin Marsch is expecting his son and would probably be staying home for the Crown Royal Players Championship in Steinbach, which opened the door for BJ to step in.

The ice at the Southeast Event Centre has been transformed into four sheets of curling ice as the venue prepares to host the Grand Slam of Curling.

Preparations began on January 2, and Sporting Events and Scheduling Manager at the SEC, Gabe Brandt, says the first step focused on ensuring the ice surface was perfectly level.

“We brought in the zamboni, together with the ice technicians, identified little areas where the ice wasn’t perfectly level, where there were some ridges in the ice.”

Once the surface was even, crews moved on to covering all existing lines and logos in the ice, including the large Pistons logo at centre ice.

“It’s powdered paint together with water. And basically, they have a wand, and they just spray everywhere on the ice, covering up the logos. They did that a couple times to make sure that we were starting from a nice clean base. And then basically we started flooding.”

After establishing a clean base, the team began installing the new logos and lines.

TAYLOR ALLEN

STEINBACH — The Grand Slam of Curling hasn’t even left town yet and they’re already thinking about coming back to Steinbach.

“It’s got that wow factor walking in here,” said Jenni Cram, the GSOC’s communications director on Day 1 of the Players’ Championship inside the Southeast Event Centre.

The world’s top curlers are headed to Steinbach as the Grand Slam of Curling prepares to take over the Southeast Event Centre (SEC) in January.

From Steinbach to the Olympics
Gabe Brandt, sporting events and scheduling manager at SEC, says the event is a major milestone for both the community and the venue.

“We’re super excited to be able to host (these athletes) in our beautiful facility,” Brandt says.

The tournament will bring 24 teams together from Canada, Scotland, Italy, China, South Korea and other countries.

“There are no teams that are better than these anywhere else in the world.”

Among the headline competitors are Rachel Homan and Brad Jacobs, with roughly a dozen of the teams representing their countries at the 2026 Olympics.

“These world-class teams want to play one more time against each other to be ready for the Olympics,” Michelle Sawatsky, director of communications, marketing and sales at the Southeast Event Centre, says.

A holiday visit to southeastern Manitoba turned into a true Canadian experience for a young visitor from overseas.

Amelie Bulat, a Grade 6 student from London, England, attended her first-ever ice hockey game while visiting family in her mother’s hometown of Steinbach over the Christmas break.

With her father, grandfather and sister, she took in a Steinbach Pistons matchup at the Southeast Event Centre.

Make the friendship bracelets, head down to the Southeast Event Centre, take the moment and taste it. On Saturday, December 13, Steinbach, Southeast Manitoba and beyond will celebrate the most famous birthday in pop with a Taylor Swift tribute show.

Part of the Steinbach Tribute Series, “Taylor’s Story” will take fans on a memorable journey through the Eras, performing hits from albums including 1989, Red, Lover and Evermore.

As Michelle Sawatzky-Koop, SEC Director of Communications, Marketing & Sales, explains, Swifties will be treated to a concert that almost looks and sounds like the real thing.

“It won’t be just a blonde girl singing Taylor Swift songs,” she says, referencing performer Shannon Beresford. “She looks like Taylor Swift. She sounds like Taylor Swift. She acts like Taylor Swift. She’s incredible.”

The City of Steinbach is requesting a one-year deadline extension for the completion of the Southeast Event Centre under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Community Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream.

This was discussed at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

“There are a number of smaller outstanding items that we are working with Graham Construction to have completed,” explained Corporate Services Manager Adam Thiessen. “Since they aren’t completely finished yet, we’re asking to extend the ISIP deadline to September 30, 2026, so that we can comply with the terms of that agreement.”

The Southeast Events Group (SEG) has announced the appointment of a new General Manager who brings extensive experience and a strong connection to the community.

In August, Michelle Bezditny stepped into the role of Interim General Manager while the search for a permanent candidate began. That search has now concluded with the hiring of Melanie Hiebert, who officially started in the position on November 4.

Ben Townsend, a member of the SEG Board of Directors, says Hiebert is a strong fit for the role.

“We believe Melanie is going to bring strong leadership structure. She has an incredible passion for our community. Having someone local who truly understands the people here, how we think, what we value, what resonates with us, I think that will be a tremendous advantage as we continue to grow the Event Centre. So, I think those attributes were big for us.”

Families in Steinbach have something new to get excited about.

The long-awaited Game-On Play Zone, sponsored by Niverville Credit Union, at the Southeast Event Centre is officially opening its doors on Monday, Nov. 3.

Steinbach City Council has received reassurance that there’s enough ice time available for local sports and community use at the Southeast Event Centre.

During the October 14 meeting, Councillor Susan Penner said she had heard concerns from minor hockey about being pushed aside after the Eastman Selects signed a contract with the facility.

She then asked, “Is there something you can say to reassure minor hockey and the community?”

In response, facility representatives said there is more than enough ice time to meet community needs.

Jarrett Bishop, Southeast Events Group (SEG) treasurer, told council that ice utilization “is not what you think,” adding that the main ice sheet, known as The Bowl, had only 58 percent utilization during prime hours. Those hours are Monday to Friday from 4 to 11 p.m. and on weekends. Non-prime hours showed 33 percent utilization for The Bowl, while the TG Smith Arena showed even lower percentages.

The Southeast Events Group (SEG) is asking the City of Steinbach for $877,000 to help cover operating costs this first year and a number of facility improvements that are needed.

This request was presented by the SEG board of directors at city council’s SPC or Strategic Priorities Committee meeting on Tuesday.

SEG President Grant Lazaruk says there are two components to this request, an operating fund request of $435,000 and a capital projects request of $442,000.

It was a celebration years in the making. Residents of Steinbach gathered Thursday to officially open the Southeast Event Centre.

Crews broke ground on the project in January 2023. However, as was noted at Thursday morning’s grand opening ceremony, the idea for this project was first brought up at City Council level nearly 15 years before that.

Thursday’s ceremony included speeches from Lieutenant Governor Anita Neville, Provencher Member of Parliament Ted Falk, Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism Nellie Kennedy, Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen, President of Southeast Events Group Grant Lazaruk, Steinbach Mayor Earl Funk, and former resident of Steinbach, professional player and coach Ralph Krueger.

The Southeast Event Centre is heading into its busiest months with optimism, as the Southeast Events Group works through early challenges and shows signs of steady growth. Despite delays in opening and initial setbacks, the facility is now running closer to full capacity and gaining traction as a community hub.

The Steinbach Pistons and Southeast Event Centre hosted the Manitoba Moose for an inter-squad game on Sunday, and it was an incredible experience.

The Moose play in Steinbach
That is according to Kevin Geisheimer, the Director of Business Operations for the Steinbach Pistons. He notes there was a unique buzz in the SEC as spectators got to see professional hockey players hit the ice in the new facility for the first time.

Because it was an inter-squad game and not a pre-season or regular season game, Geisheimer says they did not know how much interest there would be in the event, but the community really showed up.

Steinbach’s September 19th Orange Shirt Day was all about wisdom, resilience, healing and community.

The Southeast Event Centre hosted keynote speakers, cultural dancers and musicians —bringing together the spirit of unity and reconciliation.

It was an emotional start to Wednesday night’s Steinbach Pistons game at the Southeast Event Centre as longtime volunteer and fan Tasha Wiese was honoured with a ceremonial puck drop.

Wiese, who has spent the past several months recovering from sepsis and multiple amputations, said the moment overwhelmed her with gratitude.

“I was very nervous. It was very, very emotional for me,” she said. “When I heard Jamie Roy say my name and start describing what happened to me, the tears started. Tahnee, my sister, pushed me onto the ice, more tears. I was so overwhelmed I didn’t know until afterwards that everyone stood up and applauded me. When you’re in the struggle every day it’s easy to forget how far you’ve come. The evening was a moment to appreciate that.”

Steinbach will mark a significant step on the journey of Truth and Reconciliation Friday with an event that organizers say has been years in the making. The full-day gathering Sept. 19 will begin with a community honour walk and feature keynote presentations from residential school survivors, live cultural performances and educational displays. This is the kick-off to Orange Shirt Day.

Organizers say the free event is open to everyone across southeastern Manitoba, designed to provide a safe and meaningful opportunity for learning, reflection and connection.

Local restaurants are raising the bar for Steinbach’s annual Burger Days, serving up mouth-watering creations you won’t want to miss.

From Thursday, October 2 to Saturday, October 11, 14 restaurants and one brewery will showcase their best burgers during the popular event hosted by the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce.

Executive Director Tessa Masi says this year’s burger lineup is incredible.

The Manitoba Moose are heading to the southeast this weekend for their Blue and White Intrasquad Game.

Steinbach Pistons Director of Sales and Marketing, Jamie Roy, says they’re thrilled to host an event like this at the Southeast Event Centre.

“This is the highest level of hockey coming to our community. This is pro hockey. And because it is an intrasquad game, it’s guys that are fighting for a job for this year. They’re fighting for a spot on the Manitoba Moose squad.”

Roy notes there will also be representatives from the Winnipeg Jets management team in attendance.

“They’re all Winnipeg Jets prospects because they’re all fighting their way to be on the Moose this year, but they’re also fighting for a job to get called up to the big club too. So, it’s a really cool opportunity to see who’s all coming up in the system, so we’re really looking forward to having just that caliber of hockey. And it’ll be intense because like we said, they’re fighting for a job.”

Corny Rempel is at it again! It’s Feel Good Friday with the Steinbach Auto Dealers, and they provided Corny with gift cards from Coffee Culture to bless people who were enjoying the new Walking Track at the Southeast Event Centre!

To watch more Feel Good Friday videos, click here.

CASSIDY DANKOCHIK STEINBACH — THE roster of the Manitoba Moose took one step closer to being finalized Sunday but it wasn’t in the Hockey for All Centre or even downtown at the CanadaLife Centre. The American Hockey League affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets held their...

by GREG VANDERMEULEN As the grand opening celebration on Aug. 21 approaches for the Southeast Event Centre, the Southeast Events Group has decided to crank up the local celebration. Gone is the planned ticketed evening concert that was to feature the Winnipeg-based...

Southeast Events Group (SEG) has announced a change in leadership.

Grant Lazaruk, who is President of SEG, says Jeffrey Bannon has departed as General Manager of the Southeast Event Centre in Steinbach. The move took effect last Wednesday.

“He has played a pivotal role in the growth and success of the company,” says Lazaruk. “And we extend our sincere appreciation for his leadership and dedication to the centre.”

After years of planning and construction, the Southeast Event Centre (SEC) in Steinbach is preparing to welcome the community for its much-anticipated grand opening on Thursday, August 21.

“This has been decades in the making,” says Steinbach Mayor Earl Funk. “Back in the late ’80s, City Council began purchasing land downtown knowing that one day, we would need more space for recreation and community events. That vision is finally coming to life.”

The grand opening promises a full day of activities for all ages, beginning with an official ceremony at 11 a.m. inside the impressive Arena Bowl. Michelle Sawatzky, Director of Communications at the SEC, says the ceremony will be followed by a mayor’s luncheon for dignitaries and a free community lunch open to everyone.

“Who doesn’t love a free lunch?” says Sawatzky with a smile. “We want families to come out, have a great time, and explore everything the new centre has to offer.”

A multiplatinum, two-time Grammy Award-winning musician is headed to Steinbach to help celebrate a major milestone.

Providence University College and Seminary is marking 100 years, and as a part of the centennial “birthday-bash,” Christian country artist Zach Williams will be playing at the Southeast Events Centre (SEC).

It’s the only Canadian stop on the musician’s tour.

Lindsey Post, director of development at Providence, says Williams was chosen to headline the celebration because of the deep impact his music has had on people in the community.

The race kicked off with Team registrations at the A.D. Penner Park picnic shelter. After the whistle blew, teams of four set out across the city to tackle physical challenges, solve puzzles, and test their teamwork at places like Crossfit Steinbach, CJ’s Hangout, MHV, and City Hall. At each stop, teams completed tasks to move on, everything from axe-throwing and a “five-legged race” to quizzes with the mayor and even a swimming challenge at the Aquatic Centre.

All teams paid a $100 entry fee, 100% of which went directly to support Tim Horton’s Foundation Camps. Organizers say over $25,000 worth of in-kind donations were also provided by local businesses.

Jorge Soussa, manager of all three Steinbach Tim Horton’s locations and event organizer, said, “We really wanted to create something fun that brings the community together and gets people excited about supporting Camp Day, which is taking place next Wednesday, July 16. And this event is a great lead-up to that. We’ve had a huge response, more support than ever from local sponsors and teams.”

Chris Funk, known on stage as The Wonderist, is bringing his signature mix of magic and music to the Southeast Event Centre this Friday, and for the Manitoba-born performer, it feels like a heartfelt return.

“I spent most of my life in Winnipeg with roots near Steinbach – my parents are from the Grunthal area and the Arnaud area – and I went to school in Gretna,” Funk says. “So this really is a homecoming.”

His upcoming performance is part of the opening lineup at the brand-new Southeast Event Centre in Steinbach. “I’m very pumped to be there,” Funk adds. “I’ve heard it’s a phenomenal space, and I’m honoured to help kick things off.”

Get ready to experience the magic! Chris Funk, The Wonderist, is bringing his mind-blowing show ‘Redefining Wonder’ to the Southeast Event Centre on June 27, and we want to send you and a friend!

Chris has amazed audiences around the world and appeared on America’s Got Talent, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and Masters of Illusion. His high-energy performance is perfect for the whole family.

Tune in to MIX 96, Country 107, and AM1250 for your chance to win free tickets!

Want to guarantee your spot? Grab your tickets now at tickets.southeasteventcentre.ca.

The Southeast Event Centre is getting closer to the full grand opening and progress continues on completing the facility.

While the building has been in use for several months, several key amenities remain under construction. That includes the children’s play zone, the walking track, and the gymnasium — all of which are now expected to open before the end of summer.

Providence University College and Theological Seminary is inviting southern Manitoba to help them celebrate 100 years in the community with a concert featuring Zach Williams and opener Jordan St. Cyr.

“It’s amazing to represent 100 years of legacy and 100 years of service to the Manitoba community, the church, and our alumni students,” says Kent Anderson, President of Providence in Otterburne, MB. “I’ve been a part of this for four years. I can’t take too much credit, but I’m very grateful to steward this school at this particularly significant moment.”

Steinbach’s brand-new multipurpose facility is partially open and is anticipating a full year of bringing the community together for events.

“We’re so excited about this building and it’s not even completely open yet,” says the Director of Communications, Marketing, and Sales at the Southeast Event Centre in Steinbach, Michelle Sawatzky-Koop. “March 14, we got the arena bowl open for that very first Steinbach Piston game. We got the occupancy granted a mere 12-24 hours before we let 2,400 people into the building.”

The reason for the centre is to offer many different opportunities and aspects for the community in Steinbach, including the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, to play their home games.

“There were sell-out crowds, yummy concessions,” says Sawatzky-Koop. “What I think I noticed the most about that opening was that people didn’t just come for the hockey. They came to see the place, and then they realized what a community gathering place it was.”

When the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce called it the Taste of Steinbach they meant it.
  The sold out event was held at the Southeast Event Centre for the first time in its third year. There were 624 mouths to feed and chef, JP Charpentier had 15 local food producers from which to source his five-course meals. 
  As each piece of carrot cake from Old Church Bakery was getting its own daisy flower placed on top from some of the 15 kitchen staff, event centre and HyLife corporate chef Charpentier explained the months of preparation that goes into making such a masterful spread. 

Floral arrangements sit artfully in green nests, with the golden glow of candlelight spilling onto white-clothed tables. Music from a string quartet wafts on warm air, accompanied by the happy hum of good company.
Then a mouthwatering burst of aroma peels into the room, and eager eyes scan the space in anticipation of a hearty community meal.
This was the scene at the third annual Taste of Steinbach on Tuesday, which was a delicious success, as hundreds gathered at the Southeast Event Centre (SEC) to savour local flavours.

Fans inside the Southeast Event Centre cheer as Mark Scheifele gives the Winnipeg Jets a 1-0 lead during game two of their series against the St. Louis Blues. The SEC is hosting viewing parties for Jets playoff games, with over 300 people in attendance for game two April 21. The large screens showing the game didn’t stop rec hockey league action from continuing, with players on the ice pausing to watch the NHL game at key moments. Tickets for the viewing parties are $10, with $5 going to local charities. During games one and two the SEC also handed out a box of popcorn to everyone in attendance. 

On hand to be a part of Tuesday’s announcement that the Grand Slam of Curling will be held at the Southeast Event Centre were curling royalty, Jennifer Jones and Reid Carruthers, both of whom were over the moon that the event was coming to Steinbach.

“We’re so excited to come to Manitoba,” Jones said with a big smile. “It’s been a few years since the Grand Slam has come to Manitoba. It’s going to bring International curlers, we get to show off this beautiful Events Centre, which is jaw dropping, it’s so impressive. We’re so excited to come and showcase what southeastern Manitoba is all about.”

THE countdown is officially on for Steinbach to host the Grand Slam of Curling’s Players’ Championship.

Organizers, politicians and curling stars were in attendance at the newly built Southeast Event Centre (SEC) in downtown Steinbach May 13 to promote and officially kick off the event, which will take place Jan. 6-11 in 2026.

Manitoba hasn’t hosted a Grand Slam since 2018.

The Centre’s general manager, Jeff Bannon, said the Players’ Championship will be the SEC’s chance to make a strong first impression on the national stage.

“This is our Neil Armstrong moment,” Bannon said.

“What I mean by that is this is when we’re going to put our flag in the ground and let the entire world know how great Steinbach and southeast Manitoba is. This facility was built by the community for the community and we can’t wait to share our community with the world.”

Excitement is building as the Winnipeg Jets enter the playoffs, and the Southeast Event Centre is bringing people together to watch hockey on the big screen. Well, actually, big screens.

Director of Communications at the Southeast Event Centre, Michelle Sawatzky-Koop, says their screens are 15 feet tall and 45 feet wide so you can really see every pass, every check, every goal!

“We’re all about community and we love watching hockey, so we want to do that here,” says Sawatzky-Koop. “And it’s in collaboration with the Jets – they’re excited to have us to do this for them. We’re going to do it for every home and every away game!”

James Fuchs knows the physical toll that a long playoff run in junior hockey can have on the body.

The Surrey, B.C.-born forward has lived through it twice, reaching the Superior International Junior Hockey League final with the Thunder Bay North Stars in 2023 and qualifying for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League championship series with the Steinbach Pistons last season.

Fuchs and the Pistons have designs on making another run deep into April this year, and that means the 20-year-old, who prides himself on playing a hard-nosed game in the dirty areas of the ice, will need to maintain a rigid recovery schedule.

This past Friday marked a historic moment for Steinbach as the highly anticipated Southeast Event Centre (SEC) officially opened its doors.

The brand-new facility welcomed its first visitors for the Steinbach Pistons game, and among them was Kelvin Goertzen, MLA for Steinbach, who was a huge advocate for this project and shares his thoughts on the experience.

“It felt really great, of course,” he says. “As a young person, I spent many years in the old Centennial Arena and had many great memories there. The Steinbach Huskies, the Allan Cup. But I really feel good about the fact that a new generation of Steinbach and southeast residents can now make new memories in their building. I think that’s really important.”

He says that letting go of the past can be difficult, but it is necessary to provide future generations with a space that will last for years to come.

Steinbach hockey fans had their first look inside the new Southeast Event Centre over the weekend as the Steinbach Pistons played their first games in the state-of-the-art facility.

The Pistons’ debut at their new home on Friday night was met with awe and excitement from those in attendance. While the team suffered a 3-2 shootout loss, the evening was filled with enthusiasm for the future of hockey and events in the city.

Bart Zwiep was among the first to step inside and was immediately impressed. “First thing I said was wow. I’ve been to the arena in Portage and this is much better,” he said. “It’s a really good addition for the city, and I can see a lot of stuff happening here, from concerts to championship banners being lifted.”

On again, off again and now… open. This is the ongoing story of a potential multiplex, new arena or performing arts centre in Steinbach that has finally come to be known as the Southeast Events Centre.

We have followed all city council resolutions, motions and voting as well as budgets, planning and construction. Here’s a chronological look at how we got to where we are today.

When the Steinbach Pistons hit the ice on Friday night, the hockey team ushered in a new era for the southeast Manitoba city.

The Pistons’ MJHL game against the Selkirk Steelers marked the unofficial grand opening of the Southeast Event Centre (SEC) in front of a sell-out crowd.

“It was so exciting,” Michelle Sawatzky-Koop, SEC’s communications and marketing director, told CTV News. “There’s been so much work going into this, and so much anticipation for those front doors of the Southeast Event Centre to open.”

The Steinbach Pistons opened things up at their new home, the Southeast Event Centre in an evening filled with magic, hope, memories and awe, that was only slightly dampened by a 3-2 shootout loss.

It was a magical night with an energy that has been years in the making.

Cheers echoed through the facility right from the moment people set foot in the building and kept building through warm-ups.

The players and staff of the Pistons were introduced and saluted the home town fans.

The highly anticipated Southeast Event Centre in downtown Steinbach is opening its doors for the first time tonight with a special event featuring its main tenant, the Steinbach Pistons.

Michelle Sawatzky-Koop from the Southeast Event Centre (SEC) says this is an exciting moment for the community.

“We are so excited. This has been a long time coming,” she says. “I think our dream is to open the whole thing, and we will be doing that, but we are still dreaming. I think we’ll always be dreaming at the Southeast Event Centre. But this is our very first event, it’s for our main tenants, the Steinbach Pistons, and I know they’re especially excited about it.”

It’s been decades of preparing, talking and building. But now, a highly anticipated building now stands tall, wide and bold in Steinbach’s core.

The city’s mayor, Earl Funk, says, he couldn’t be more excited as the final touches are put on the Southeast Event Centre (SEC), and starts getting used — including for the first Steinbach Piston’s game on Friday night.

“I was there on Monday, and the Pistons were practicing. Wow, that was just so exciting to see someone playing in that big event centre,” he says.

“The amount of work that’s getting done is just phenomenal, and how wonderful the building on the inside looks. It’s actually breathtaking. It’s majestic, and I do believe it’ll be the diamond of the southeast area.”

On again, off again. It’s the ongoing saga of a potential multiplex, new arena or performing arts centre in Steinbach. We have followed all city council resolutions, motions and voting as well as budgets, planning and construction. Here’s a chronological look at the last many years of this hot button issue in our city.

The Steinbach Chamber of Commerce has announced that this year’s Taste of Steinbach event will take place at the newly opened Southeast Event Centre. The annual event, which celebrates local food and community, is scheduled for May 27.

Taste of Steinbach expands to new venue

Tessa Masi, executive director of the chamber, shared the update during a recent presentation to Steinbach city council.

“Last year we were at the airport, we had 500 guests there,” said Masi. “This year, because the Southeast Event Centre is so brand new, we are going to be hosted in there. We’ve upped our number of tickets to be just over 600, so more people are able to attend. Tickets are going to go on sale shortly.”

Tickets for the event will be available through the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce website. Masi said the chamber is focused on continuing to elevate the event each year.

An “ice-ential” part of the Southeast Event Centre is ready to go, bringing it one step closer to opening.

Mike Pries, the senior arena and parks maintenance manager with the City of Steinbach, says ice making in the building is complete — thanks to the help of some new equipment, including a new ice plant.

“We’re running at 325 horsepower instead of the old one which was 155 (horsepower). So, our cooling capacity is really good right now,” he says.

Despite the newness of the facility and some equipment, he says the process stays the same.

Well, except for the fact that this year, they had to prep the concrete for the ice.

After a decade of dreaming, years of planning, countless months fundraising, and day after day of hard work, the Steinbach Pistons proudly opened their space in the Southeast Event Centre.

Head Coach and GM Paul Dyck has been right there every step of the way, alongside his brother Russ, and he had to pause when asked to talk about the space that to him, is more than just an area for hockey players.

“Took me a moment there, that’s a big question, there’s a lot,” he said with a laugh. “I needed a second to get my thoughts together. Depending where you start, you just walk into the locker room, there’s a lot of nice touches. We wanted to create something that would be around for a long, long time.

You may assume, and rightly so, that the Southeast Event Centre will have concessions selling arena favourites such as hot dogs and popcorn. However, culinary offerings, even in the concessions area, will go well beyond – with an onsite restaurant for those seeking a more elevated dining experience.

Led by Hylife Corporate Chef JP Charpentier, Forum & Bistro will be a casual French bistro, where people can come to enjoy a good meal and have a good time.

The Steinbach Pistons are counting down the days until they can finally call the Southeast Event Centre home. 

With lines and logos getting painted on the ice and the video boards nearly completely installed, excitement is building. A booth promoting season tickets and multi-game packs was a popular destination during Steinbach’s 5-4 win over Dauphin inside their temporary La Broquerie home Feb. 21. 

Steinbach residents have been waiting for almost two decades for this moment: the Southeast Event Centre is finally going to open its doors this spring.
The $75-million, multi-purpose downtown hub was slated to open in fall 2024, and then in December — but this time, it’s for sure, organizers say.
“If it doesn’t open in March, it will open in April, but it’s opening,” said Grant Lazaruk, president of Southeast Events Group, the volunteer organization that will run the facility on behalf of owner City of Steinbach.

Steinbach’s Southeast Event Centre is on track for completion, with ice making to start in a couple of weeks and occupancy expected by March. That is according to City Manager Troy Warkentin. He provided a detailed construction update to city council during a public meeting on Tuesday evening, highlighting progress on both the exterior and interior of the facility.