The Bill Barber Complex - named after Callander's own NHL player and Team Canada Alum boasts an award-winning covered structure that offers significant protection from the elements throughout the year. During the summer months, the complex accommodates weddings, concerts, community events and recreational activities. During the winter months, it becomes an outdoor public skating rink that is available for rent.

Mr Barber was drafted in 1972 by the Philadeplphia Flyers and was interviewed by Natasha Wiatr, Callander Bay Museum Curator for his 50th anniversary; 

On growing up playing hockey in Callander

“Well you know, it was pretty much all that we had. My dad was a big hockey fan, and he had the Petro Can at the corner of Wasi Road and 654 right there… We lived upstairs and they ended up having a rink built right around the corner where we could skate every day, it was really our only sport besides baseball in the summers and soccer came in a little bit later. I fell in love with it in the sense of just, you know, the skating aspect and handling the puck and shooting the puck and that kind of stuff. We had some awesome teams that competed at a high level even though we were a small community and we didn’t lose a lot of games.

I love being up there – still come home in the summers, I love the people, I spend a little bit of time at the Tavern to catch up with everybody and other than that I usually hang my hat on the South Shore and chill out.

I’m fortunate enough to have four championship rings, three Stanley Cup rings, and an American Hockey League ring, I’m very proud of it. The thing about it though is that I thank the people of Callander for always supporting me, and of course your parents, they’re everything and my brothers especially – they’re the ones that were always pushing me a little bit which was good.

Interview originally recorded on May 6, 2020. Parts have been edited and/or condensed for space. You can listen to the entire interview on Youtube at www.youtube.com/callandermuseum

The Bill Barber Arena functions as a public skating rink in the winter months. The public skating schedule will be posted here and on social media once the rink is open. The length of the skating season is subject to the weather.

The rink is also available for private rentals during the skating season during specific times, as seen in the schedule (2025 Season schedule here).

The Hector "Hec" Lavigne Memorial Pavilion in Centennial Park is available for rent and accommodates many birthday parties and gatherings during the summer months.

The Pavilion is only available for private rentals during certain times. For available times, view the Pavilion Rental Schedule.

Facility

Daily

Half Day

Hourly

Callander Community Centre

Large Hall / Kitchen and Bar

$495

$305

$83

Kitchen ONLY

$195

$110

$39

Bill Barber Complex - includes Orton Room (when bare – no ice rink)

$330

$195

$39

Bill Barber Complex – includes Orton Room (when ice rink is operational)

N/A

N/A

$88

Orton Room ONLY

$220

$110

$30

Wedding Special – 1pm Friday to 2pm Sunday for rental of Large Hall and Kitchen.

$880

N/A

N/A

Wedding Special – 1pm Friday to 2pm Sunday for rental of Large Hall and Kitchen, Orton Room AND Bill Barber Arena.

$1,100

N/A

N/A

Yarlasky Athletic Field

$110

$55

$20

South Shore Community Centre

Community Centre Upstairs Meeting Room ONLY

$55

$30

$20

South Shore Athletic Field

$55

$30

$20

Centennial Park

Picnic Shelter (first come first serve only)

N/A

N/A

N/A

Pavilion

Minimum two-hour rental for all pavilion rentals

$200 (filming only)

N/A

$30

Move Pavilion furniture from Pavilion    $400 (Minimum four-hour rental required)

Key Deposit                                                 $50

Noise By-Law Exemption for Event          $75

NOTE: The above fees do not include HST, which is required for all facility rentals. For more information, please email info@callander.ca.

These rates are subject to change without notice and are reviewed on an annual basis.

Half day = up to 6 hours

Full Day = anything over 6 hours

The Renter is responsible for ALL set up and clean up associated with the event/rental.

The Municipality of Callander’s Bench Program is available for anyone who wishes to give a lasting legacy in the community. The gift is yours to give, whether it is to honour a loved one or a deceased animal. Some may also wish to honour an important event. Whatever your reason, your commemoration will be a beautiful addition to the Municipality of Callander.

In the spring of 2023, Municipal Staff installed a number of commemorative benches to be readied for sponsorship. If you are interested in sponsoring one of these benches, please read our Bench Program, and return the filled in form at the end of the policy to us in person at 280 Main Street North, or by email to info@callander.ca. We will then be in touch to arrange all the details, including the design and installation of the commemorative plaque.