Karen Magnussen Community Recreation Centre is turning 50!

Photos of three people in the arena and a group of kids jumping into the pool

It’s been 50 years since the arena at Karen Magnussen Community Recreation Centre opened and we’re going to party like it’s 1975! (The aquatic area and fitness centre were added to the facility in 1992.)

Come shake your groove thing with us on Sunday, September 14 from 11am to 5 pm. We’ve got fun for everyone and all activities (skating, swimming, fitness/dance classes) cost just 50 cents!

Event schedule: 

11am  Opening ceremony with Mayor Mike Little
11-12:30pm   50¢ Public skate with the Mayor
11am-5pm  Facepainting, colouring, crafts, trivia board
11am-1pm 50¢ Public swim 
11:50am-12:30pm 50¢ Drop-in Muscle 1 fitness class
12:30pm  Cupcakes
12:40-1:20pm  50¢ Drop-in Hatha yoga class
1-2:30pm 50¢ Disco skate
1-3pm 50¢ Public swim – super soakers, games & pinata
1:30-2:10pm 50¢ Drop-in Persian dance class
3-5pm 50¢ Family skate
3-5pm 50¢ Public big waves swim

Celebrating 50 years of community, recreation and culture – we’re excited to share this milestone and keep the good times rolling with you!

Can you dig it?

In 1973, North Vancouverites celebrated the ground-breaking for the new arena with the arena’s namesake, figure skating phenom Karen Magnussen, and then-Mayor Ron Andrews helping start the excavation. Learn more about Karen Magnussen below.

Image
Karen Magnussen shovels dirt next to Mayor Ron Andrews as part of the ground-breaking ceremony for the Karen Magnussen arena.

(Photo credit: North Vancouver Museum & Archives)

Who is Karen Magnussen?

Karen Magnussen is a born-and-raised North Vancouverite who went on to become an international champion figure skater. She won a silver medal at the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo, Japan and World Championships in Calgary, Alberta going on to win gold at the 1973 World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia (then part of Czechoslovakia). Read more about her life and legacy:

MONOVA: The Legacy of Olympic Figure Skater Karen Magnusson
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame: The Story of Karen Magnussen (video)
BC Sports Hall of Fame: Karen Magnussen