Kamloops Council has given the green light for staff to move ahead with applying for a federal grant to offset the cost of the Brock Arena ice plant replacement and efficiency improvements.

If the City’s application is successful, the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program could provide up to 80% of the project’s total eligible costs which comes in at about $4.4 million.

The arena’s ice plant has reached the end of its expected life and is scheduled for replacement. This project will improve the facility’s energy efficiency by capturing waste heat from the ice plant and using it to preheat the domestic water, ice melt pit, and swimming pool. Those design features will significantly reduce the facility’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Project Delivery Manager Adam Gordon says the project is set to begin in November. “The construction is scheduled to take place from November of 2024 through to July of 2025 as well. The arena and pool will remain open while this work is ongoing, with the exception of a two to three week window near the end where the ice and all the lines underneath the ice are tied into the new system. Until that point, the existing ice plant will remain operational, and ice times shouldn’t be affected.”

“We as a city have already undertaken a project that will seek to replace this ice plant meet contemporary regulations for refrigeration equipment and substantially reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of the existing building by utilizing heat capture from the new ice plant to other systems.”

If this grant application is successful, the replaced funds will be placed in reserve for potential consideration on other priority projects. If this grant is NOT received, this project will be funded entirely by funds allocated and approved in the capital budget.

Constructed in 1973, the Brocklehurst Recreation Centre has a 30,000 square foot ice rink, change room facilities, and a seasonal outdoor pool. The City operates the ice rink year-round.