A rendering of the arena multiplex in Dufferin. (Image Courtesy: Group2 Architecture Interior Design Ltd.)

By Victor Kaisar

Build Kamloops

Information session scheduled as city to reveal more plans for Dufferin arena multiplex

Sep 11, 2025 | 10:24 AM

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops will be hosting an information session at Kenna Cartwright Nature Park where people will be able to ask questions and explore plans for the new arena multiplex in Dufferin.

The event will be held between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon next Saturday (Sept. 20) at the main trailhead of the park off Hillside Drive.

The city notes that the addition of the multi-million facility — which will also include a new library — will add four new sheets of ice in Kamloops to meet the needs of “multiple ice sports.” It notes that move will add more capacity for local clubs while improving the city’s ability to host events.

“Peak-time use of all ice and dry floor is approaching 100 per cent during the primary ice season,” the city said, in a statement. “Demand for ice time exceeds capacity, and our current facilities are aging, with the last one built in 2005 (McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre) as part of the Tournament Capital build.”

“The construction of the arena multiplex will also improve the city’s ability to respond as a host community by using other city facilities during emergency events without disrupting recreation and community events that can be accommodated in the new facility.”

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(Image Courtesy: Group2 Architecture Interior Design Ltd.)

The city has grown significantly since then and the Recreation Master Plan identified the need for more ice sheets to meet the demands of a growing community. The Kamloops Centre for the Arts — which is expected to begin construction this fall — was identified as the top priority in that 2019 plan.

Kamloops council has approved the borrowing of up $275 million for the two projects, with up to $135 million going towards the multiplex as well as future Build Kamloops initiatives. The other $140 million will go towards the arts centre.

“[The multiplex] will be built on city-owned land, which reduces the overall project cost and builds on our history of repurposing otherwise unusable land and co-locating indoor and outdoor recreation facilities,” the city statement added.

The arena multiplex will feature seating for approximately 1,500 spectators across the four ice sheets. It will also feature change rooms and sports amenities, a fitness facility, multi-purpose rooms and roughly 700 parking spaces.

The city says the project will also mean improvements to intersections, roadways and transit in the Dufferin area as well as upgrades to amenities at Kenna Cartwright Park, the largest municipal park in British Columbia.

The project is currently undergoing a validation period which is expected to wrap up in spring 2026. There will be some earthworks happening in late 2026 with construction and road improvements scheduled to get underway in 2027.

Users of Kenna Cartwright Park can provide feedback on how the multiplex could enhance their experience via a short online survey. It will be available until 3:00 p.m. on Oct. 17. Paper surveys are also available at City Hall or at the city’s Civic Operations Centre.

More information about the arena multiplex project can be found online here.