Kamloops residents are being encouraged to lace up their hiking shoes — and bring their questions — as the City prepares to host a public info session on the highly anticipated Arena Multiplex project this weekend at Kenna Cartwright Nature Park.
The “Meet, Greet, and Multiplex” event will take place on Saturday, September 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the main trailhead off Hillside Drive. The open house-style session offers residents a chance to explore concept plans, speak with project staff, and provide input on how the project can better serve both arena users and park-goers.
“We want to make sure that our Kenna Cartwright Park users have an opportunity to give us feedback,” said Sheri Holmes, Sport, Recreation and Wellness Manager with the City. “Whether it’s better parking, a bike repair station, or other amenities — we want to hear what would make that space work better for them.”
Project Aims to Meet Growing Demand for Ice and Recreation
Kamloops currently operates six indoor ice facilities, most of which are running at or near capacity during peak seasons. No new full-sized rinks have been added since 2005, despite the city growing by over 30,000 residents since the early 1990s.
The Arena Multiplex is designed to meet that pressure head-on, with plans including:
- Four ice sheets
- Seating for approximately 1,500 spectators
- Modern change rooms, a fitness centre, multi-purpose rooms
- Dedicated space for the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library
- Roughly 700 parking spaces
Holmes emphasized that this is just the beginning of a multi-year project, and that community engagement will continue throughout the design and construction phases.
“We’re in the very early stages with the design of the building,” Holmes explained. “This event is specifically to reach out to Kenna Cartwright Park users while they’re still actively using the park before colder weather sets in. But we absolutely will be having ongoing engagement with ice users, dry floor users, and the community at large.”
Not Just for Park Users — Everyone’s Welcome
While Saturday’s session is focused on feedback from those who use the adjacent Kenna Cartwright Nature Park, Holmes noted that all residents are welcome to attend and share their thoughts on the Arena Multiplex or the surrounding area.
“We welcome anybody to come out and chat with us,” she said. “We’ll have an info booth, swag, and even dog treats. It’s really about starting the conversation and making sure we hear from a broad cross-section of the community.”
Planning Timeline and Public Input
The City is using an Integrated Project Delivery model, which brings together architects, contractors, trades, and City staff at the same table during the design phase to ensure efficiency and collaboration.
“It will be quite the planning process,” said Holmes. “There’s going to be lots of back-and-forth with trades and architects, and my team will be out talking to residents and user groups regularly to make sure we’re building a facility that makes sense for everyone.”
Key project milestones include:
- Project validation: Winter 2025–Spring 2026
- Site preparation and earthworks: Late 2026
- Construction and road improvements: Starting 2027
- Target completion: 2029
Residents unable to attend the in-person session can still have their say through an online survey, available until 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 17. Paper surveys can also be picked up at City Hall or the Civic Operations Centre.
