By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Construction has begun on the Oliver and District Arena Rehabilitation project, with the 56 year old facility getting major upgrades, the Town of Oliver and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) announced today.
The arena was built in 1968 and was the second ice facility to be established in the South Okanagan. The facility has been in use for more than five decades and many key components of the building have reached the end of their useful life, the RDOS said.
“I am pleased that the project is getting underway,” said Electoral Area “C” Director Rick Knodel. “This is a very important part of our Parks and Recreation infrastructure.”
The overall cost of the project is estimated at $3.844 million with grant funding for the project of $2.306 million approved by the federal government through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) – Community, Culture and Recreation (CCR).
The remaining funds, $1.537 million, will come from operating and capital reserves and borrowing. The borrowing was approved under the Oliver and District Arena Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2844, 2019.
Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie noted the importance of the arena as a cross-cultural meeting point. “The Oliver hockey rink is a very important part of the Osoyoos Indian Band’s relationship with the local community.”
“For over 50 years, Osoyoos Indian Band members have rented ice time, played in hockey tournaments and met many lifelong friends at the Oliver rink. Many important memories are located in that hockey rink and many future memories will be created there.
“We look forward to the arena construction project as that rink and the game of hockey, figure skating, and public skating bring our people, especially the kids, closer together,” Louie said.
A sign mounted at the entrance to the Oliver ice rink is a poignant reminder of how colonial powers of the time reneged on their agreement with the Osoyoos Indian Band and a modern day commitment by the town of Oliver and the RDOS to furthering truth and reconciliation through sport and recreation.
The RDOS awarded the construction contract to Wildstone Construction Ltd. at the April 18, 2024, RDOS Board of Directors meeting.
The project will include:
- Replacement of the arena ice slab and the rink dasher board system;
- Installation of an energy recovery system and upgrades to the arena refrigeration system controls;
- Completion of code upgrades to the life safety system;
- Renovations to dressing rooms and washrooms to meet current accessibility standards;
- Renovations to the kitchen.
“We are grateful that this project is now underway as its completion will ensure the Oliver and District Arena will remain a fixture in our community and continue to serve the residents of the Oliver area for decades to come,” said Town of Oliver Mayor Martin Johansen.
The arena will not be available for public use during construction. The majority of work at the site is planned to be completed by early fall 2024 to prepare for ice season. A construction staging area has been set up in the parking lot west of the arena. The arena is located at 665 McKinney Road in Oliver.
For more details on the unique challenges of the upgrade, see the Times Chronicle article from May 30, “Bright year ahead for Oliver recreation facilities”.
For further information, contact Kyle Gabelhei, RDOS Projects Supervisor at 250-490-4381, or Carol Sheridan, Town of Oliver Director of Recreation at 250-485-6200.
