Farewell Leisure Centre

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For over 30 years, the Leisure Centre has been a monumental recreation facility in Grande Prairie. Since opening its doors in 1976, it has served as a regional hub for local tournaments, swim meets and other programs and services. The facility featured a swimming pool, fitness center and the Johnny MacDonald Arena. The venue (previously known as the Recplex) hosted many concerts in its history including Kim Mitchell, Haywire, Bryan Adams and more.

For many years, the Leisure Centre was Grande Prairie's primary indoor recreation facility until the opening of the Eastlink Centre in 2011. Since then, the aquatics centre closed its doors while the Johnny MacDonald Arena operated as an indoor soccer pitch from 2012-2022. In July of 2018, the Leisure Centre was home of the Alberta Summer Games Office.

In the summer of 2021, City Council approved the full demolition of the Leisure Centre including the soccer pitch due to structural issues with the facility. The demolition will take place in conjunction with the old Composite High School and is set to begin this summer.

Share your memories

The Leisure Centre served many residents, staff and community members throughout its years, and we invite everyone to share their memories of the facility to celebrate its life in Grande Prairie. Share your stories, pictures, and memories under the Stories tab below.


For over 30 years, the Leisure Centre has been a monumental recreation facility in Grande Prairie. Since opening its doors in 1976, it has served as a regional hub for local tournaments, swim meets and other programs and services. The facility featured a swimming pool, fitness center and the Johnny MacDonald Arena. The venue (previously known as the Recplex) hosted many concerts in its history including Kim Mitchell, Haywire, Bryan Adams and more.

For many years, the Leisure Centre was Grande Prairie's primary indoor recreation facility until the opening of the Eastlink Centre in 2011. Since then, the aquatics centre closed its doors while the Johnny MacDonald Arena operated as an indoor soccer pitch from 2012-2022. In July of 2018, the Leisure Centre was home of the Alberta Summer Games Office.

In the summer of 2021, City Council approved the full demolition of the Leisure Centre including the soccer pitch due to structural issues with the facility. The demolition will take place in conjunction with the old Composite High School and is set to begin this summer.

Share your memories

The Leisure Centre served many residents, staff and community members throughout its years, and we invite everyone to share their memories of the facility to celebrate its life in Grande Prairie. Share your stories, pictures, and memories under the Stories tab below.

Leisure Centre Stories

Do you have any photos or memories of the Leisure Centre? Share them here by September 8 to help celebrate the Leisure Centre's impact on our community!

I hereby grant the City of Grande Prairie the non-exclusive right to use, reproduce, publish and distribute the photograph(s)/ video(s) I upload in print or electronic media, including but not limited to websites, social media platforms, brochures, newsletters and advertisements. I hereby release the City of Grande Prairie from any claims, demands, or causes of action arising out of or in connection with the use of the photograph(s)/ video(s) including but not limited to legal claims. I understand that I will not receive any financial compensation for use of the photograph(s)/ video(s) and this release is voluntary.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Final Ice Hockey Game in the Johnny Mac on Facebook Share Final Ice Hockey Game in the Johnny Mac on Twitter Share Final Ice Hockey Game in the Johnny Mac on Linkedin Email Final Ice Hockey Game in the Johnny Mac link

    Final Ice Hockey Game in the Johnny Mac

    by Lindsey Juniper, over 1 year ago

    I had the pleasure of being the last Hockey Alberta Referee to officiate the last ever hockey game played at the Johnny Mac... It was in the spring before the facility was to be converted to an Indoor Soccer Pitch and it was the Tri-District (GP Catholic/GP Public & PWA) Hockey Tourney that was a fund-raiser for the 3 school districts... It was one for the memory books...


    Lindsey Juniper

    HA Official 1998 - 2020

  • Share Where I learned to Skate and Swim on Facebook Share Where I learned to Skate and Swim on Twitter Share Where I learned to Skate and Swim on Linkedin Email Where I learned to Skate and Swim link

    Where I learned to Skate and Swim

    by Alysha Steeves , over 1 year ago

    This was the place I learned I wanted to be a figure skater I loved skating so much. How ever due to expenses we cod continue the lessons. When I got old I went in to swimming, I did all my swimming lessons there, spent all my time swimming lanes to I could pass all the life guarding courses. I also attended high school at PWA and this was open while I was attending and it was my favorite hang out place at lunch time. This places also has memories of me and my brother learning to swim. This building... Continue reading

  • Share My first years in Canada as a kid on Facebook Share My first years in Canada as a kid on Twitter Share My first years in Canada as a kid on Linkedin Email My first years in Canada as a kid link

    My first years in Canada as a kid

    by Hossam, over 1 year ago

    Swimming at the leisure center and grabbing a poutine after was one of the few activities to do for me and my friends back in 2008. As a new family to Canada, we didn’t really have exposure or access to the many outdoor activities that other Canadians who have been here for a couple more generations have enjoyed. Bowling, muskoseepi park and the mail were the only other spots I can think of frequenting back in those days

  • Share Father Daughter time on Facebook Share Father Daughter time on Twitter Share Father Daughter time on Linkedin Email Father Daughter time link

    Father Daughter time

    by MKS, over 1 year ago
    I don’t have a lot of memories of spending time with my father as a young girl. He worked long hours and was usually not around.


    That being said he made time for taking me to swimming lessons as a little girl. My greatest childhood memory of my father is our time together at the Leisure Centre.

    I remember standing on that divider and the task was to jump into the pool. I remember my father in the pool with open arms encouraging me to jump. I knew I would be okay because he was there to catch me. I... Continue reading

  • Share Swan City Figure Skating Club on Facebook Share Swan City Figure Skating Club on Twitter Share Swan City Figure Skating Club on Linkedin Email Swan City Figure Skating Club link

    Swan City Figure Skating Club

    by KEverton, over 1 year ago
    Spent many hours before and after school in the Johnny Mac as part of the Swan City Figure Skating Club! I went to Harry Balfour and would walk over, taking the shortcut through the comp on the very cold days. I would sit in the dressing room doing homework until it was time to go on the ice, sipping on a hot chocolate or tea from the vending machines. So many wonderful memories and great friends made in those dressing rooms and on the ice ❤️
  • Share My first concert and my first swimming lessons! on Facebook Share My first concert and my first swimming lessons! on Twitter Share My first concert and my first swimming lessons! on Linkedin Email My first concert and my first swimming lessons! link

    My first concert and my first swimming lessons!

    by Karen Ryan, over 1 year ago
    I saw my first ever concert at the Johnny Mac - it was Dan Seals! I loved BOP, and was so thrilled to go to his concert as a kid. Also took all my swimming lessons here - great memories for sure. Was able to take my own kids (very young age) swimming here too before it was closed. Piece of history for sure, from someone who was born & raised in the Peace Country ❤️
  • Share Great memory on Facebook Share Great memory on Twitter Share Great memory on Linkedin Email Great memory link

    Great memory

    by Sarah worton, over 1 year ago

    I was proposed to in that pool 22 years ago. He had the ring hooked on to the old safety pin that the locker keys were attached to. The memory is a great one. 🥰

  • Share My childhood on Facebook Share My childhood on Twitter Share My childhood on Linkedin Email My childhood link

    My childhood

    by Codi Morrison Malloy, over 1 year ago

    From almost drowning my first time in the deep part of the shallow end, to Friday nights spent at the pool with girlfriends, twilight swims to taking my oldest two for their first pool experiences at weeks old.
    Leisure Center was a central part of my childhood and teen years. I even met my first love there, once upon a time :)
    thank you for the memories!



  • Share First day the Rec Plex pool was opened on Facebook Share First day the Rec Plex pool was opened on Twitter Share First day the Rec Plex pool was opened on Linkedin Email First day the Rec Plex pool was opened link

    First day the Rec Plex pool was opened

    by Shelley Biendarra , over 1 year ago

    It was called the Rec Plex then. I was 5 years old, my sister was 4 and my brother was 6. My mom and my Auntie Ev (family friend) took us to the pool. It was exciting to swim there. I had my swimming lessons at that pool. When the title changed to the Leisure Centre it took my kids there. They also took their swimming lessons at that pool. I gave yearend parties at the Leisure Centre before it closed for the AMA School Safety Patrollers. Many fond memories of the Johnny MacDonald arena. My first concert was Street... Continue reading

  • Share Old Timers Hockey game. on Facebook Share Old Timers Hockey game. on Twitter Share Old Timers Hockey game. on Linkedin Email Old Timers Hockey game. link

    Old Timers Hockey game.

    by Brannon Edgar, over 1 year ago
    Back in ‘97 or ‘98 my dad took me to an old timers hockey game, held in the leisure centre. we got to watch Lanny MacDonald, Guy Lafluer, and Rocket Richard play a game against local firefighters. The man sitting beside my dad and I (I was 3 years old) won a raffle to go into the locker room and meet the players. The man turned to my Dad and saw me, and offered to give us the raffle tickets. I got to meet so many of my heroes, and I even managed to ask Richard why he was wearing... Continue reading