The Tribute Communities Centre anniversary will give Oshawa residents a chance to take home a piece of locally created art as the downtown venue marks 20 years on November 3.
A limited supply of free commemorative posters will be available at the venue’s ticket office beginning Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 10 a.m. Distribution will be first come, first served, while supplies last, with a strict limit of one poster per person.
Oak View Group, which operates the centre, announced the project on October 30. Oshawa artist Dani Crosby was commissioned to bring two decades of concerts, sporting events, family entertainment and less-visible memories together in one illustration.
Local artist captures two decades
The 12-by-18-inch poster contains approximately 137 illustrated figures. The project began with a minimum of 70 visual elements and grew into a densely detailed work that invites viewers to keep finding references.
The venue opened as the General Motors Centre in 2006. Its anniversary artwork draws on the people and experiences associated with the building since then, rather than focusing on a single performance or team.
Artists represented in the poster include KISS, Elton John, Selena Gomez, The Offspring and Lainey Wilson. Sporting events and family shows are also part of the composition.
Memories beyond the stage
Some details refer to moments that would not necessarily appear in an ordinary venue history. The announcement describes a marriage proposal during an Arkells concert and a sound technician working in ice skates during an Our Lady Peace show.
Employees and behind-the-scenes contributors are included too. The venue’s team was invited to share favourite memories, stories and inside jokes to help shape a picture of the building’s wider community.
General manager Andrew Nash described the project as a reflection of the people and moments that have made the centre more than a place to watch a performance or a game. Assistant general manager William Balfour said the intent was for fans to recognize shared experiences and discover stories they had not known.
A personal connection to Oshawa
Crosby works across traditional and digital media, with a practice that includes public art, studio work, print illustration and collaborative projects. Her work often explores connections between people, community and place.
She has attended events at the centre with her son and included the two of them among the artwork’s details. According to the venue, it is the first time she has added such a personal representation to one of her commissioned pieces.
The Tribute Communities Centre anniversary poster is a newly announced commemoration, separate from earlier reporting about the arena’s modernization. Residents hoping to collect one should note the November 3 opening time and limited supply; the announcement does not guarantee a poster for every visitor.
