Saturday marks the 56th anniversary of the tragic roof collapse at the Listowel Memorial Arena, that took the lives of eight people.
On February 28, 1959, four years after the arena was constructed, the weight of snow and ice caused the roof at the arena to collapse, killing seven peewee hockey players and a referee who were playing on the ice at the time.
Flags were at half staff the following week, and attendance at the funerals were so large they were broadcast on P.A systems.
A memorial logo is put on the ice every season at the arena and the Listowel Cyclones Junior B team wear an emblem on the shoulder of their jerseys to commemorate the tragic event.
The seven peewee hockey players killed were Ricky Kaufman, Jimmy Hastings, Brian Seehaver, Jackie Rheubottom, Kenny Hymers, Barry Smith, Keith Wight. Also killed was Ken McLeod, a referee and the director of recreation.
