(Image Credit: CFJC Today File)

By Victor Kaisar

Build Kamloops

New curling and racquet sports facility to replace Memorial Arena, Kamloops Curling Club

Jan 23, 2026 | 10:50 AM

KAMLOOPS — The next phase of the ambitious Build Kamloops initiative involves a significant amount of demolition along Victoria Street downtown.

The City of Kamloops has announced plans to tear down Memorial Arena and the Kamloops Curling Club, plus a handful of buildings to the east of the arena, to make way for the new curling and racquet sports facility. This work, however, isn’t expected to begin for at least three years.

Build Kamloops Committee Chair Kelly Hall said Friday (Jan. 23) that these plans have been in the works for years, adding it will revitalize the east end of downtown.

“This project will replace almost an entire city block into a vibrant hub for active living that integrates curling, racquet sports and has the potential for much more, including fitness space, community gathering areas and even housing,” Hall said.

Week In Review

Week In Review: Week of February 23

Feb 28, 2026

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: KSACC disappointed at Kamloops MLAs' vote to advance human rights code bill beyond first reading

Feb 28, 2026

TWO & OUT

PETERS: U.S. Olympic men's hockey team celebration was extremely political - whether players recognize it or not

Feb 27, 2026

“This complex helps us replace aging infrastructure with modern, multi-use spaces consistent with the city’s 2019 Recreation Master Plan.”

Location of the new curling and racquet sports facility along Victoria Street in Kamloops. (Image Credit: City of Kamloops)

The City also announced Friday that it has bought the properties at 761 Lansdowne Street and 770 Victoria Street to create a 3.6 acre development site. The city already owns both the Kamloops Curling Club and the Memorial Arena properties.

While a new curling and racquet sports facility has always been envisioned as the third major Build Kamloops project, no location had previously been made public.

Work is already underway at the site of the Kamloops Centre for the Arts at Fourth Avenue and Seymour Street while work on the arena multiplex in Dufferin is expected to begin later this year.

“The multiplex has to open and the projected date there is 2029, so this project could probably start as early 2030, with construction taking – who knows – three, four years,” Hall added. “It’s giving the curling community as well as the racquet sport community an opportunity to see a vision, and I hope the rest of the City of Kamloops recognizes that as well.”

Memorial Arena, Kamloops Curling Club approaching 80th anniversary

Dedicated on Remembrance Day in 1949, Memorial Arena has long been a staple of Downtown Kamloops. It was the former home of the Kamloops Blazers and is currently used for other levels of hockey, ball hockey and lacrosse.

“Memorial Arena has deep historical and emotional significance for many residents, including seniors, veterans, athletes, heritage advocates and long-time users,” a statement from the City of Kamloops said.

“Over recent months, the city has started engagement with groups such as the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 52, the Rocky Mountain Rangers, heritage organizations and user groups to ensure their stories, memories and contributions are meaningfully reflected.”

The Kamloops Curling Club also opened its doors in December 1949 with four sheets of ice. Two more sheets were added in 1964 and the facility was expanded to its current eight-sheet capacity in 1975.

The Kamloops Curling Club and McArthur Island Curling Club joined forced ahead of this season, three years after they signed a memorandum of understanding to amalgamate both curling clubs into one facility.

The McArthur Island Curling Club officially ceased operations in March last year and its former location is now home to a new mini ice rink, which opened in October.

“We also recognize the deep history and emotional significance of Memorial Arena and the Kamloops Curling Club,” Hall added Friday. “You’re going to see new opportunities for the Legion and for Rocky Mountain Rangers to be a part of this development as well.”

No price tags were mentioned or how the new curling and racquet sports facility will be funded, but the city is set to embark on a “multi-year, phased engagement process to hear from users, interest-holders and the broader community.”

That engagement approach, the city said, will ensure the new facility is “functional, financially viable and reflective of Kamloops residents’ needs and aspirations.”

“We will invite curlers, racket sport enthusiasts, heritage groups, local businesses and the broader community to help shape a facility that reflects the needs and aspirations of the City of Kamloops,” Hall added.

“We look forward to the next steps and continuing the conversations about how this facility can meet the needs of the community and how it’ll contribute to revitalizing the downtown.”

More information on the curling and racquet sports facility can be found here.

– With files from Marty Hastings/CFJC Today