In the late 1950’s more than 2,500 kids were registered in the fast growing Church Athletic League participating in five-pin bowling, hockey and softball.

As the league entered its tenth year in 1959, E.H. “Ebby” Hare, who had been involved in the CAL since 1952, was elected the new president.

Ebby would become a driving force for the league in that era, leading to a new arena being built in Portsmouth Village.

Hare was well-known in Kingston, past president of the Kiwanis Club, manager of the local Dominion Tire store, he had been running the CAL hockey program at St. John’s Anglican Church for several years.

At the time there were only two rinks in Kingston with artificial ice, the old Jock Harty Arena on Arch Street and the Kingston Memorial Centre. The CAL wanted a rink of its own and Hare was instrumental in raising funds to help the CAL build the Harold Harvey Arena.

The new rink opened in 1961 on the site of a former limestone quarry on Church Street in Portsmouth.

It was estimated to cost $150,000, but they built it for $80,000 with lots of the materials donated and skilled trades who donated their time to the project. League founder Harold Harvey owned a construction company and had plenty of contacts in those areas.

In a 1994 Whig Standard interview, Hare remembers asking the city for $50,000 towards the rink. They gave him $25,000 and the next year he went back to Council asking for $25,000 more, “I called all the clergy in town asking them to show up at the council meeting and to wear their collars backwards when they walked in.” It worked.

Hare added that 55 parishes in the Kingston-area helped raise funds to build the arena, “and we raised $16,000 alone through special Sunday collections from all the churches.”

In 1961 when the rink was built Hare was named Kingston’s “Man of the Year,” (now known as Kingston’s “Citizen of the Year” award).

The Harold Harvey Arena was unique in that it was an open air rink with artificial ice. No roof, no sides, falling and blowing snow were an ongoing issue interrupting games. It took a few years but a roof was installed in 1964 and it became fully enclosed in 1968.

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was on hand for the official rededication of the rink in ‘68.

Ebby spent 16 years on the CAL executive and is best remembered for his dedicated efforts to raise funds to build the arena.

Active in the community, in 1962 Ebby joined the board of the International Hockey Hall of Fame where he would serve for 20 years, including five years as president.

Later his son, Jim Hare, also became involved and the father and son team put in many hours at the York Street shrine during those years.

Ebby was also the manager of ARC Industries in Kingston, he had special wooden frames built for commemorative plaques to honour each member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Those plaques were displayed for decades at the local museum.

E.H. “Ebby” Hare, who passed away in 1996 at the age of 82, was a tireless champion for the Church Athletic League and the man most responsible for the Harold Harvey Arena.

The CAL is hosting a 75th anniversary celebration on Friday November 06 at Cataraqui Arena. Everyone is welcome.

RSVP Here

Mark Potter is a former Kingston broadcaster, a member of the Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame and growing up in Portsmouth played in the CAL for St. John’s Anglican.