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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.
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 FacebookShare Final Ice Hockey Game in the Johnny Mac on TwitterShare Final Ice Hockey Game in the Johnny Mac on LinkedinEmail Final Ice Hockey Game in the Johnny Mac link
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 FacebookShare Where I learned to Skate and Swim on TwitterShare Where I learned to Skate and Swim on LinkedinEmail Where I learned to Skate and Swim link
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 FacebookShare My first years in Canada as a kid on TwitterShare My first years in Canada as a kid on LinkedinEmail My first years in Canada as a kid link
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
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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 FacebookShare Swan City Figure Skating Club on TwitterShare Swan City Figure Skating Club on LinkedinEmail Swan City Figure Skating Club link
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 FacebookShare My first concert and my first swimming lessons! on TwitterShare My first concert and my first swimming lessons! on LinkedinEmail My first concert and my first swimming lessons! link
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 ❤️
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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. 🥰
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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 FacebookShare First day the Rec Plex pool was opened on TwitterShare First day the Rec Plex pool was opened on LinkedinEmail First day the Rec Plex pool was opened link
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 FacebookShare Old Timers Hockey game. on TwitterShare Old Timers Hockey game. on LinkedinEmail Old Timers Hockey game. link
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