As Weston Lions Arena melts for good, MLSE open to saving ice rink

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This old ice barn will soon become another footnote in disappearing Toronto.

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It won’t be long until the Weston Lions Arena joins Hudson’s Bay stores, Yonge-Dundas Square, Dundas TTC station and Ryerson University in extinction.

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It’s sad because this place is a Toronto time capsule. One that soon could vanish for good.

After three-quarters of a century, hockey will come to the end at the Weston Lions Arena when the  2026 season wraps up. There seems to be no getting around that reality.

“Current ice users will finish their season at Weston Lions, and we are working closely with them to help them relocate to arenas in the Etobicoke-York communities for the beginning of the 2026-2027 season,” said City of Toronto spokesperson Simon Larson.

This will change that neighbourhood forever. The arena opened in 1949, after all.

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Maple Leafs’ owner, Major Conn Smyth, lent a hand in building it and many Second World War veterans were on the construction crews. Wayne Gretzky and champion figure skater Elvis Stoyko have filmed TV commercials at that locaiton and Eric Lindros has coached there.

And thousands of kids played their minor hockey there. Some still do. Adult recreational hockey players and those at hockey schools still strap on the blades at the old Weston.

Weston Lions Arena to be demolished

But not for much longer. A bulldozer awaits.

That’s the bad news. The old arena — in need of much upgrading — is coming to the end of its lifecycle and despite a petition to change course, there does not seem to be any momentum to alter this.

The good news, though, is the property will be re-built into a Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) Launch Pad – a modern asset that will allow the community to play sports like basketball and floor hockey, and obtain youth mentoring.

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And more good news: MLSE has not closed the door on an ice pad component as part of this re-envisioned facility.

“MLSE is fully committed to supporting and transforming the local community by partnering with the city to revitalize a venerable facility and build on its historic legacy,” said MLSE President and CEO Keith Pelley. “Our previous experience working with the city to create MLSE LaunchPad in 2016 optimized an underutilized city-owned facility and has positively impacted the lives of tens of thousands of youth in the years since.”

MLSE open to ideas

But that one was in a public housing building. This is one will be on the spot where so many memories have been already made. MLSE has indicated it’s open to all ideas.

“While design concepts are still in the formative stages, the project will be incorporating feedback and exploring all options to ensure it is fully responsive to the community’s needs today and in the years ahead,” said Pelley. “We look forward to sharing plans publicly early in the new year and to this partnership helping transform the community and changing lives.”

This is a good thing. This has been proven to be a winner with the original MLSE LaunchPad.

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It would be great if hockey, skating, figure skating and even broom ball could be part of it.

But all of the cost to build and operate the new LaunchPad shouldn’t be solely dumped on the corporation that owns the Maple Leafs, Marlies, Raptors, Argos and TFC. There needs to be some negotiation here and others to step up.

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“We’re committed to fostering communities where residents thrive and providing programs that meet the community’s changing needs — the city council has authorized a lease enabling the MLSE Foundation to create a new hub providing free, high-quality recreation, life-skills, and academic programming for children and youth,” said Larson. “This partnership will revitalize and modernize the arena building at no cost to the city, and maximize its potential to provide multiple sports access.”

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But there is a cost.

Even though that rink has been allowed to wither away and die on the vine, it does not mean the arena’s disappearance is the best thing for the city, young people, the surrounding neighbourhood or the history of the city. That said, it would take a lot of capital to get the arena up to modern standards.

On paper, our municipal politicians have determined it’s just not cost effective.

Less than 4,000 have signed petition

As of Sunday afternoon, 4,150 people had signed a petition to save the arena and others lament the end of the long run there. “Originally a horse barn, the masons made it into a hockey rink. Paint is from left-over Maple Leaf Gardens paint. Would be very sad to destroy our memories and legacy,” says on person who signed the petition.

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Another signatory added: “As a parent with kids in both rep hockey and basketball, I can confidently say there are plenty of basketball facilities in this city” while “rinks on the other hand are hard to come by.”

But all is not lost there just yet. This is a good time for the community to let local Councillor Frances Nunziata and Mayor Olivia Chow know they oppose the plan to do away with the arena. The message should also be sent to Prime Minster Mark Carney and Premier Doug Ford that since they have millions of dollars for World Cup soccer, they should also remember the needs of the hockey community.

And the private sector can also chip in to help MLSE either find a way to keep an ice rink there, or at least a recreational ice pad as part of the new Launch Pad concept.

This is Canada after all. We shouldn’t be tearing our legendary hockey rinks without a fight.

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