Preliminary site drawing of a four-sheet iceplex on Hillside Drive. (Image Credit: Group 2 Architects)

By Victor Kaisar

Multiplex Update

Kamloops council endorses plan for four rinks at new Dufferin multiplex

Jan 20, 2025 | 4:31 PM

KAMLOOPS — City councillors have endorsed a recommendation from the Build Kamloops Select Committee to build a maximum of four ice rinks at the proposed multiplex in Dufferin.

The committee put forward that recommendation in October, as they were told that trying to fit six ice sheets would not leave room for other amenities like a fitness centre or meeting rooms.

At last Tuesday’s (Jan.14) council meeting, Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson once again suggested moving the multiplex to another location — or adding rinks to existing civic facilities — citing the amount of work needed to prep the site near Kenna Cartwright Park.

“Are we beyond the point of looking at putting these rinks in different areas? There’s a mountain to move to put the four rinks there,” Hamer-Jackson said.

The proposed site for the arena multiplex — 2070 Hillside Drive — was a dump site for materials that were removed during construction of the Coquihalla Highway.

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“The answer is no, not yet,” Civic Operations Jen Fretz said, when asked by Hamer-Jackson if the city knew how much it would cost to excavate the Dufferin site.

“We’re looking at number of different options. Obviously, the more we can do to minimize the earth moving, the lower the cost for construction will be so we’re trying to be as creative as we possibly can with the use of this site.”

Hamer-Jackson has, in the past, suggested that the City scrap the plan to build the multiplex in Dufferin and add to the existing Valleyview Arena.

Every location ‘has issues’

CAO Byron McCorkell said while “there will always be other options,” the city is moving ahead with plans that were greenlit by council last year, and approved by the electorate through the alternative approval process (AAP).

“Every site has issues. That isn’t something new for us. What we need to do is determine what the costs are to build on it,” McCorkell said. “Every site, if we don’t own it, has a bigger cost to it. We own this site, we know it has some issues and we’re working through those issues. To go back now is just more time and more money.”

As for the Hamer-Jackson’s desire to see new rinks added to existing facilities, Fretz said that is also a possibility, as the city grows.

“We’’re heavily invested in that [Dufferin] site for this multi-rink complex, but that’s not to say there wouldn’t be future project opportunities at a number of different locations,” Fretz said.

“But specifically to this multiplex, the Hillside location is where we have invested the time and the money.”

Future Dufferin expansions may not be possible

At Tuesday’s meeting, Councillor Stephen Karpuk said he wanted to make sure that the city was building more than just four rinks at the multiplex.

“As I read this, it basically looks like it’s hamstringing us to a maximum of four rinks. I just want to be clear, are we adding a mini rink? Are we adding other things?” Karpuk asked.

“We are doing everything we can to allow for as much flexibility as we can on this site but we are limited for a number of different reasons,” Fretz responded. “All of that information will be brought back to the committee as we know more.”

In addition to the four rinks, the city says the Dufferin facility could include a walking track, a fitness facility, play spaces for children, concession options and amenities for users of Kenna Cartwright Park like showers and washrooms.

It may also include multi-purpose space for meetings and events, office space for staff and sports groups, as well services like skate sharpening and equipment rentals. It could also be used to host events and trade shows or dryland sports like lacrosse when the ice is removed.

“The six-sheet option doesn’t allow for much else other than just all sheets of ice,” Infrastructure Delivery Divisional Manager Matt Kachel said in September. “It would limit other factors within the building but it could work.”

As for potential future expansions at the Dufferin site, Fretz said while staff will do what they can, she noted it may not happen because of site constraints.

“The reason I hesitate to say ‘absolutely’ is because of the constraints of the site,” Fretz said. “If it were a big open field where we had no concerns whatsoever, absolutely. But this one, I think that ‘absolutely’ is not quite as easily given.”

“We’re certainly going to look at all of the opportunities, but there are some constraints related to this site, so that may not be possible, but that’s not to say we’re not going to look at it.”

Judge reserves decision on AAP lawsuit

While the city hopes to begin construction in 2026, this project — and the proposed Centre for the Arts downtown — is the subject of a legal challenge that is aiming to have the borrowing approval for $275 million put to a full referendum.

The new arena multiplex has a price tag of $140 million, up to $125 million of which come from long-term debt. The total cost for the arts centre is an estimated $154 million, with up to $140 million coming from long-term debt.

The other $10 million the city hopes to borrow will be put to future development and design work for other Build Kamloops initiatives.

Lawyers for Kamloops resident Kathrine Wunderlich, who filed the legal challenge, and the city made their arguments in court on Jan. 15.

The presiding judge, Joel Groves, reserved his decision to a later date.