The Roll-A-Dome will see a resurgence of sporting leagues and community groups being invited into what some people call Prince George's original community centre.
Jon LaFontaine, local sports enthusiast who has been a Roll-A-Dome fan for at least 25 years, will be taking over the lease at the facility and trying to breathe new life into the building starting
Sept. 1.
It's business as usual and the schedule will not change.
Al Work, 70, has run the Roll-A-Dome for more than 35 years and will remain employed there, supporting his new boss.
"It won't be that much different, I just won't be the boss," Work said.
LaFontaine will have Work on the day shift and another employee on evenings and weekends.
"So now if I want to go fishing next week, I can just tell Jonny 'oops, sorry, I'm gone - you take care of things,'" Work laughed.
"I think Jonny will make a good boss."
LaFontaine said the Roll-A-Dome has been home for his sporting activities for so long and that's where his passion lies to want to keep it going strong.
"I don't want to see it being developed for big business and lose a home for all the different user groups," LaFontaine said. "I recognize the Roll-A-Dome as a hidden gem in Prince George that offers so much recreation."
LaFontaine is happy Work will stay on at the Roll-A-Dome.
"You can't get luckier than than," he said. "Al really is the face of the Roll-A-Dome and he'll help me get it driving in the right direction and hopefully we can build off of what Al's been doing here."
The goal is to get more user groups into the facility, he added.
"I'm looking to build a recreational ball hockey league for beginners and intermediates," LaFontaine said.
Right now there's a competitive men's league and a masters but nothing for those who wish to participate to get some exercise and just have fun. There's already been some drop-in sessions that have seen new players come out and the new leagues will start up later in the fall.
"I'm trying to get some soccer back here," he added.
"The Roll-A-Dome offers a bit of a different game than the Northern Sport Centre offers. It's more of the arena-type soccer which has the boards and the nets are sunken in behind the boards so it's a lot more fast-paced and non-stop action where the ball's not rolling out over the line and having a stoppage every 30 seconds or something like that and another big thing we can offer is that involvement with the fans where you can sit close and watch the game."
LaFontaine held a tournament at the Roll-A-Dome last spring and said the response was very positive.
"It was a big success and that's what got the ball rolling on this," he added.
The Roll-A-Dome will continue to offer what's regularly scheduled, including family birthday parties.
"I'm just going to be pushing for more leagues and more user groups," he said.
LaFontaine will continue his full-time employment with the City of Prince George and will manage the Roll-A-Dome, with the support of his wife, Dina, and a team alongside him.
In the past he's played flag football, participated in tennis tournaments, ball hockey and soccer.
"I've been a big part of those sporting communities and I just really want to keep the Roll-A-Dome going for all the different user groups," LaFontaine said.
He knows there needs to be some improvements done and is planning to reach out to the community for help with renovations to the 65-year-old property.
"We want to get new hardwood flooring and upgrade the bathrooms," he added. "We're also going to upgrade the facility to LED lighting."
Anyone who wishes to donate time or materials can contact the Roll-A-Dome at 250-564-6795.
