Hardy Henry (left), Marnie Cammidge, Butch Johnson and Kai Bailey cut the ceremonial ribbon on centre ice to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Southampton Coliseum November 4.

Hub Staff

Forty years of community spirit was celebrated on the ice as many community members and athletes paid their respects to the Grand Ol' Lady, the Southampton Coliseum, November 4 as it turned the big four-oh.

The celebration included a family ice skate, curling demonstrations, yummy food and cupcakes, a ribbon cutting, and figure skating demonstrations. A Battle of the Brutes alumni game also took place and saw the Southampton Mariners and members of the Sabres taking on the Lakeshore Winterhawks, with the Hawks outscoring 5-4.

The merriment continued into the night with a dance at the Southampton Town Hall. Retired town employee and co-organizer of the celebration, Hardy Henry, said that coming back to celebrate the coliseum’s 40th anniversary was one of the highlights of his “past working career.”

When asked, Hardy reflected on his love of the building. “It’s just the building being so full of local people, when it was the Mariners it was local kids that played, the Southampton Sabres, it was just the older guys who played here, but it was just local people that came out, and the building was just packed,” said Henry, adding that socials were held Friday nights and Saturdays. “It was right here in town, walking distance, and everybody just had fun and that’s what the building was all about.”

Local dignitaries Saugeen First Nation Elder, and Councillor Vernon Roote and Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith recalled memories and thanked everyone for their efforts. A ribbon cutting ceremony saw retirees Butch Johnson and Hardy Henry, who together had put 70 years of work into the Southampton Coliseum, and Marnie Cammidge who was integral to the fundraising for the Coliseum’s inception 40 years ago.

Former Saugeen First Nation Chief, Councillor and Elder Vernon Roote recalled memories of the Southampton Coliseum, November 4 during the 40th anniversary celebration.

Hockey alumni from the former Southampton Mariners and Southampton Sabres hockey teams took on members of the original Lakeshore Winterhawks during the Southampton Coliseum’s 40th anniversary celebration.

Many skaters took to the ice at the Southampton Coliseum for the free family skate.

Members of the Southampton Curling Club gave curling demonstrations during the coliseum’s anniversary celebration.

Figure skater and Olympic hopeful, 4 year old Rylee Simmons, performed at the Southampton Coliseum’s 40th anniversary celebration November 4.

Sarah Raynsford performed her technical routine at the Southampton Coliseum’s 40th anniversary celebration.