By Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
The “little arena that could” in Oliver has just received $2.3 million in funding for a long-awaited rehabilitation project.
The grant from the provincial and federal government will address several key components. For example, the ice cooling system and slab floor are failing, and multiple building features no longer meet safety codes. And the facility is largely inaccessible to people with certain mobility challenges.
The total cost of the upgrade is estimated at $3.1 million. After the grant, the remaining funds will come from capital reserves and borrowing.
Built in 1969, the arena has been in use for more than 50 years. But according to the Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, the upgrade will soon benefit from a safer, more accessible and energy efficient space.
Construction work isn’t scheduled to begin until summer of 2024.
Nobody is more excited about the announcement than Parks and Recreation manager Carol Sheridan.
“This (grant) submission is from 2020. So here we are in 2022 finally successful . . . all that time on pins and needles.”
Sheridan said the ice rink slab has already failed. “There’s big, huge cracks in the concrete, and the brine lines underneath have been breaking at the boards for the last few years.”
Every season staff had to repair these lines to adequately cool the slab for the ice.
“We still have another full season to go after this one because we won’t be doing these repairs until 2024.”
Sheridan said they are so happy because the community rallied behind the facility in 2019 when the arena turned 50.
At that time staff were very concerned that without financial support from the government, they wouldn’t be able to operate the arena.
“We don’t want to run a season without an arena in this community. It’s such a big deal for Oliver to have hockey, figure skating, and all the fun stuff that happens there.”
Nathan Cullen, Minister of Municipal Affairs, said arenas in BC are more than a sheet of ice and a couple of penalty boxes. “They provide a gathering place for friends and family to connect and celebrate a game that’s part of our national identity.”
Regional district chair Mark Pendergraft said this funding support is vital to ensure the Oliver Arena is a safe and functional facility for many years to come.
Clarence Louie, Chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band, said they are very grateful for the many years of opportunity that the arena has provided to OIB hockey clubs, such as the Inkameep War Bonnets and the Wolf Creek Chargers.
“Over the past 50 years, the rink has provided a place for our youth to play in minor sport and for lifelong friendships to be created through the sport of hockey that last to this day,” Louie said.
Area C director Rick Knodel said they have been waiting for this “outstanding” news for a long time.
“The facility is overdue for an upgrade and refit. The Oliver Parks and Recreation staff deserve to be highly commended as they have done an amazing job keeping it functioning while we waited on the needed funding.”
Oliver Mayor Martin Johansen said the arena is vitally important to the community.
He noted that replacing the ice sheet within the constraints of the existing structure is a cost-effective way of modernizing the facility and will extend the service life of the arena for years to come.
