Suzanne Kolev Rogers was born in Elliot Lake and lived here until a tragic mining accident took her father's life.
Now she's one half of the dynamic duo of Suzanne and Edward Rogers. Yes, those Rogers. The one the Rogers Centre in Toronto is named after. You know, the place Taylor Swift recently played to packed houses.
Today, Suzanne and Edward announced they would be contributing $3 million to help restore the Elliot Lake Centennial Arena so they could help get residents of all ages back on the ice and into the rink, said Elliot Lake Mayor Andrew Wannan.
Suzanne and Edward have been big supporters of hockey at every level and of her hometown, the City of Elliot Lake.
In fact, that's how this all came about, said Steve Antunes, Economic Development Manager for Elliot Lake.
"They were in town at the Miner's Memorial and it was totally unsolicited," he said. "They just came and said they wanted to help."
Efforts to save arena
“Edward and I wanted to support and make a significant impact to the community and the City of Elliot Lake bringing families into the arena this winter and throughout the year. Elliot Lake holds a special place in my heart and will always be a part of my life,” says Suzanne Rogers. The arena is a landmark and meeting place for all residents.
These funds will be used to restore and upgrade the arena and to improve and renovate the inside of the building so it will be more welcoming and accessible to all.
The city had to close the arena suddenly in September of 2023 when an inspection found problems with the structure and the building was declared unsafe for occupation.
At that time, Wood Research and Design (WRD) was brought on board to assess the full extent of the problems with the building and come up with solutions.
After losing several significant buildings and two lives, the city was highly motivated to save the arena and get it open in time for hockey season this year.
The whole community pitched in to win Kraft Hockeyville and help save the arena but it's been a monumental challenge as problem after problem with the structure has become apparent.
At a recent meeting of City Council, Interim Chief Administrative Officer Rob deBortoli gave a rough overview of costs-to-date and committed costs on the project and the total so far at approximately $11 million.
Throughout the process, WRD Senior Engineer & Wood Technologist, Dr. Dan Tingley, has reassured council the structure can be saved, improved and expected to last at least another 50 or more years after this restoration.
Last fall Tingley told the council that restoration costs are typically 1/8th to 1/10 the cost of building a new structure. Foundation issues discovered late last spring have added to costs, however, the new expected costs are still well below the cost of building a new arena.
Even after it was discovered that the footings were inadequate to support the building, some columns had twisted and any roof repairs would not last if the footings were not well supported, Tingley maintained that the building could and would be made safe and ready for occupation this year.
Last month, it was indeed declared safe for occupation, allowing work on the footings to continue while a JCI subcontractor continued work on the roof.
Arena to be renamed
While there is no concrete date for opening the arena to the public, one thing that is concrete is that, thanks to Suzanne and Edward Rogers, the building will have a new name. It will proudly bear the name of a generous hometown girl.
“We are so very grateful to Edward and Suzanne Rogers for their generosity. These funds will help get residents of all ages back on the ice and into the rink including the Junior A Hockey team, Elliot Lakers, and skating clubs,” said Andrew Wannan, Mayor, Elliot Lake.
Elliot Lake will be the home of the Rogers Arena. Not quite the Rogers Centre but it means a lot to Elliot Lakers.
“This additional donation to the arena fundraising campaign will directly have an impact on every resident of the community as the City will not need to raise these funds through taxation, ultimately leaving every resident with more money in their pocket,” Wannan added.
Rogers history of generosity
This is not the first support the Rogers have extended to Suzanne's hometown, nor is it likely to be the last. They have a consistent and remarkable history of making a positive impact in the community, Antunes said.
The CT Scanner in Elliot Lake St. Joseph's General Hospital is named after Suzanne's late father, thanks to their generosity.
They've also supported the hospital in other ways and their support for the Miner's Memorial has been strong as well.
"They are very kind people," Antunes said.
