Early bidding process begins for world’s largest hockey stick in Duncan

This week, the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) opened up its expressions of interest process for groups interested in taking over the “World’s Largest Hockey Stick,” which currently sits atop of the Cowichan Community Centre in Duncan.

The stick, which measures a whopping 62.5 metres long (205 feet) and weighs in at over 28,118 kg (61,000 pounds) was built in the 1980s as part of the 1986 World Exposition in Vancouver.

It then came to Duncan in 1988 after the Cowichan Community Centre won a Canada-wide competition to acquire the stick and its massive puck.

But now, the future of the stick is unclear.

The City of Lockport, Illinois, is gunning for the title of world’s largest hockey stick with plans to build a 76 metre (250 feet) hockey stick at a new arena in its community.

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(Cowichan Valley Regional District)

Last year, the CVRD launched a survey asking residents if they were interested in spending $1 million to $3 million to build a replacement stick of their own to keep the title, but the majority of respondents declined.

In December, Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce president David van Deventer told CHEK News he understood why the community didn’t want to spend millions on a new stick, but says it’s a piece of local history that will be missed.

“Am I sad if it goes away? Of course I am,” he said at the time. “It’s been here for most of my life, but the reality is there are a lot bigger issues in the Cowichan Valley than restoring an old big stick.”

READ PREVIOUS: Cowichan Valley residents say holding largest hockey stick title not important

On Tuesday, the regional district opened its expression of interest program for a group to acquire the 38-year-old stick “as-is.”

The process is open to any public, non-profit, or private entities that can submit a proposal that includes removing the stick from the community centre.

“Alternative and creative proposals will be considered and all complete proposals will be evaluated by the Cowichan Core Recreation Commission based on general evaluation criteria,” reads the regional district website.

The expression of interest process is open until May 1 and can be found on the CVRD website.

With files from CHEK’s Laura Brougham

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