Jim Ciccone Civic Centre: 250-624-6707 Earl Mah Aquatic Centre: 250-627-7946 Recreation Dept. Infoline: 250-624-9000
The combined Jim Ciccone Civic Centre and the Earl Mah Aquatic Centre provide Prince Rupert residents and visitors with exceptional recreation facilities and opportunities for the pursuit of year-round fitness, social and cultural activities.
The Jim Ciccone Civic Centre was built in 1971 and in 1996 was named in the memory of Jim Ciccone in recognition of his long and outstanding service to recreation, his service as an elected alderman (city councillor), his seven years as a director on the board of the All Native Basketball Tournament and his many fine achievements as a homegrown athlete and coach. Jim Ciccone was born in Prince Rupert in 1952, the grandson of Italian immigrants, and graduated from Prince Rupert Secondary School. He received provincial honours as a basketball player for the Rainmakers and went on to play basketball for the Simon Fraser Clansmen.
Earl Mah Aquatic Centre
The Earl Mah Aquatic Centre features an L-shaped pool with a distance of 25 metres in two directions capable of six lanes on one leg or four lanes on the other leg. In addition, the Centre has an 11,000 litre tot pool with a small waterslide and a 2500 litre whirlpool. The main pool has a railed ramp, a 3.8 metre diving board and a Tarzan rope swing. Inside this facility is a 15-person hot sauna and a 15-person cool sauna plus a work out facility with free weights, circuit and cardio machines. The EMAC is home to the Prince Rupert Amateur Swim Club.
The Earl Mah Aquatic Centre was built in 1982 and dedicated in the memory of Earl Mah, in recognition of his long and outstanding contribution to the community through his service as an elected alderman (city councillor) and a volunteer on the Prince Rupert Tourist Board of Trade. Earl Mah was born in Prince Rupert to newly arrived Chinese immigrants, the oldest of nine children.
Russell Gamble Gymnasium
The Russell Gamble Gymnasium is a double gymnasium (117' x 107') that seats 975 spectators or can be used to accommodate a dinner/dance with 98 tables and 784 people. The Russell Gamble Gymnasium is home to the annual All Native Basketball Tournament which began in1947. Tournament organizers took a seven year break in 1953 and started the tournament up again in 1960. This powerhouse International tournament has been played every February since then.
The Gymnasium also features an 850 square foot rock climbing wall with roofs, vertical planes, overhangs, aretes and corners.
The Gymnasium was named in 2007 to honour Russell Gamble in recognition of his long and outstanding service to the community through his contribution to recreation and to the All Native Basketball Tournament. He played for the Kitkatla Basketball Team 1947-1953 and later served as a member of the tournament organizing committee from 1960-2006. Russell Gamble was named to the B.C. Basketball Hall of Fame and to the All Native Basketball Hall of Fame. Russell Gamble was born in Bella Bella in 1924, and became the Hereditary Cheif (Sm'oygit H'el) of the Kitkatla Band when he was adopted by Edward Gamble.
Dick St. Louis Auditorium
The Dick St. Louis Auditorium (87' x 59' with a ceiling height of 23') features a proscenium stage (20' Deep x 42' Wide) and floor space to seat 450 theatre style or 350 for a banquet or conference event. The floor surface is also an adult regulation basketball court. Adjacent to the auditorium is a small kitchen area, a non-regulation size Squash Court and a food canteen operated by the Prince Rupert Minor Hockey Association.
The Auditorium was dedicated in 2007 in memory of Dick St. Louis, in recognition of his long and outstanding service to the community through his contribution as a city employee for 25 years in the Recreation Department and his many years as a volunteer coach for the Boxing and Archery clubs that trained in this auditorium. Dick St. Louis was born in Sandwich, Ontario in 1930 and moved to Prince Rupert in 1972 where he spent the last 35 years of his life connected to recreation and these facilities.
Jim Ciccone Ice Arena
The Jim Ciccone Ice Arena features a Minor Hockey regulation ice surface (85 'x 190') and arena seating for 1,015 specators. This facility is home to the Prince Rupert Minor Hockey League and the Prince Rupert Figure Skating Club. The ice season for the arena runs from September through April. During the summer months the arena is used for trade shows, Aboriginal Day celebrations, roller hockey activities and the occassional traveling circus.
Meeting Facilities
Elsewhere in the Civic Centre complex, we offer a variety of meeting rooms to community groups and regularly host conferences, banquets, traveling exhibits and community celebrations.
The Raven Room (28’ x 17’) Main Floor
The Judo Room (30’ x 33’) Second Floor
The Eagle Room (22’ x 42’) Second Floor
Aquatic Centre Viewing Area (26’ x 32’) Second Floor
In addition to the Recreation facilities at the Jim Ciccone Civic and Earl Mah Aquatic centres, the City of Prince Rupert maintains a number of playing fields around town:
Three(3) Baseball Diamonds adjacent to the Civic Centre (Doug Kerr Field, Maguire Field and the Ladies Diamond)
One (1) Baseball Diamond at Roosevelt Park Community School
One (1) Soccer field and track Adjacent to the Civic Centre (Patullo Field)
Two (2) Public Tennis Courts (1 set of double courts on McBride Street and 1 set of double courts on Second Avenue West)
Program Offered
Programs Offered by the Civic Center
Summer Camps
Carpet Bowling
Seniors Walking Club/Exercises
Floor Curling
Chicks Dig Volleyball
Women’s Ball Hockey
Children’s Floor Hockey
Kids Climb Club
Open Climbing Wall Nights
Crib Club
First Timer’s Hockey
Junior Badminton
Noon Hour Badminton
Tennis
Golf Lessons
Taekwondo
Pottery Club
Shibori Fabric Arts Club
Social Dance
Gardening
Yoga – Beginner, Intermediate, Hatha, Fushion, Vinyasa
Men’s Strength Training on the Ball
Women’s Ball Class
Belly Dancing
Pilates – Beginner and Intermediate
Nordic Walking
Aqua Fit
Weight Area at Earl Mah Aquatic Centre
Swimming Lessons
Fitness Classes
Children & Tots Programming
Art Attack
Bike Camps
Burning Brush art
Imagination Station
Jungle Gym and Art
Little Kickers
Simply Seedlings
Superheroes
Summer Gymnastics Program
Tots and Teddybears
Mini Oodles of Noodles
Mudworks
Make a Mess Crafts
Wiggles and Squiggles
Recreational Clubs and Organizations
Totem Lanes 97
P.R. Racquet Association
P.R. Minor Basketball
P.R. Youth Soccer Association
PR. Minor Hockey
All Native Basketball
Kaien Island Slow Pitch
P.R. Oldtimer’s Hockey
P.R. Snooker League
Recreational Hockey League
Special Olympics
Tai Chi
Women’s Hockey
Women’s Indoor Soccer
North Coast Healthy Heart Program
P.R. Elk’s Seniors Center
P.R. Rainbow Warrior Dragon Boat Team
Stitchery Guild of P.R.
Skateboard Park
Captain Cook Sea Cadets
Harbor Theatre Society
P. R. Rugby Club
P.R. Yacht and Rowing Club
P.R. Figure Skating Club
P.R. Amateur Boxing Club
P.R. Amateur Swim Club
P.R. Curling Club
P.R. Dart Club
P.R. Springboard and Diving Club
P.R. Camera Club
P.R Golf Club
Chess Club
Garden Club
Renishikan Karate Club
Rod and Gun Club
Rainbow Archery Club
Adult Badminton Club
Masters Swim Club
Running
Cross Country Running Club
Glory Days Run
Rupert Runners
Skeena River Relay
Seniors
Carpet Bowling
Floor Curling
Line Dancing
Dancing
Dance Academy of Prince Rupert
Spectrum City Dance
Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Dancers
Fitness
EMAC Workout Area
Curves
The Gym
Sisters Pace Fitness
Outdoor
Butze Rapids Trail
Cross country skiing
Grassy Bay Trail
Kayaking/Canoeing
Paintball
Skateboard Park
Tennis Courts
Tyee- Outdoor climbing
Recreation
