Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen (Left) and Cavendish Farms President, Robert Irving (Right)  holding a one-million-dollar cheque. (Photo: LNN on January 31, 2023)

By Sarah Jones

Cavendish Farms takes over as title sponsor of former ATB Centre in Lethbridge

Jan 31, 2023 | 2:13 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A new title sponsor will be taking over the Crossings Leisure Complex, formerly known as the ATB Centre in West Lethbridge.

Cavendish Farms announced on January 31, 2023, that it will be committing $1 million dollars to the complex over the next 10 years.

This investment means that the complex will now be re-branded as the Cavendish Farms Centre, with new signage to be installed over the next several weeks.

Some of the first decals unveiled at the new Cavendish Farms Centre. Additional signage will be installed over the next month. (Photo: LNN on January 31, 2023)

According to the City of Lethbridge, a sponsorship of this magnitude will help support the operations of the facility, programing, and will reduce the need for property tax funding from residents.

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Mayor Blaine Hyggen said, “You know, it’s really positive every time you get an investment like this, that this is less on the taxpayers, so, of course, having Cavendish come to the table for this sponsorship is incredibly welcomed.”

Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen and Cavendish Farms President Robert Irving unveiled the new signage for the Cavendish Farms Centre. (Photo: LNN on January 31, 2023)

The $1 million will be put into a sponsorship package that will be used to offset taxation by providing $100,000 per year for the next decade.

Robert Irving, President of Cavendish Farms, explained, “This $1 million commitment will help the City of Lethbridge and its partners deliver curling, skating, hockey, aquatics, fitness, and gymnasium programs along with childcare, child play and recreation facilities.”

“Complexes like these are the heart of the community, bringing people together for a variety of purposes,” Irving continued. “We’re thrilled to give back in a city that means so much to our organization, employees, and local potato growers.”

Signage for the new Cavendish Farms Centre is set to be completed over the next several weeks. (Photo: LNN on January 31, 2023)

In December 2016, Cavendish Farms announced the construction of a new frozen potato processing plant in North Lethbridge. It later opened in October of 2019 and now employs more than 300 people.

The $430-million commitment remains the largest investment by a private company in the City of Lethbridge’s history.

This is not the first time that Cavendish Farms has invested into the complex, as they donated $100,000 in 2019 to the Cor Van Raay YMCA, and became the naming sponsor for the Community Viewing Galleria.

In 2019, Cavendish Farms donated $100,000 to Cor Van Raay YMCA to become to the title sponsor for the Community Galleria. (Photo: LNN on January 31, 2023)

The City of Lethbridge also extended their thanks to ATB Financial for sponsoring the facility for the past six years.

“We also want to take the opportunity to thank ATB Financial for their sponsorship of the facility over the last six years,” said Hyggen. “It’s the commitment of businesses like ATB and Cavendish Farms that helps make our community thrive.”

From 2016 to 2021, ATB Financial was the title sponsor of the Crossings Leisure Complex after committing $402,800 for the initial five years, in 2022 they extended their agreement by one year.

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