Campbell River • Community Ice
Spend $57 million to refurbish one rink, or build two new rinks for less?
The current plan borrows $57.1 million to rebuild one of our two sheets of ice at Strathcona Gardens, closing it for up to two years. We believe Campbell River should look seriously at a smarter option: a new twin-rink facility that adds ice, avoids a shutdown, and actually plans for parking.
The current plan
The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) has approved borrowing up to $57.1 million to redevelop the Rod Brind’Amour Arena at Strathcona Gardens. The arena would be rebuilt on the same constrained site, with expanded spectator seating to meet “Junior A” standards and upgraded amenities.
To complete this work, one of Campbell River’s two sheets of ice would be closed for roughly two years, reducing community ice capacity by half during construction and pushing teams, families, and adult leagues to look elsewhere for ice time.
The problem with refurbishing one rink
- We spend $57 million and end up with the same number of sheets of ice we have today.
- One sheet is offline for up to two years, at a time when ice demand from minor hockey, figure skating, and adult rec is already tight.
- The existing site has roughly 200 parking stalls, yet the plan adds substantial spectator capacity without a clear, public parking plan.
- Bigger crowds, same site: more congestion, more spillover onto nearby streets, and more frustration for families trying to get to the rink.
A simple question of value
If we are prepared to borrow and spend $57 million, is refurbishing one aging sheet of ice on a tight, parking-constrained site really the best use of that money?
Construction costs elsewhere in BC suggest that a well-planned new twin-rink facility could be delivered for comparable or lower cost, while adding two new sheets and planning parking properly from day one.
That’s the core of this conversation: not whether we invest in ice, but how we invest so that the outcome actually matches the needs of the community.
By the numbers
| Item | Current Plan | Twin-Rink Option |
|---|---|---|
| Capital spend | $57.1M to refurbish 1 rink | <= $57M to build 2 new sheets (indicative) |
| Sheets of ice | Same 2 sheets as today (1 refurbished) | Existing 2 + 2 new sheets (depending on approach) |
| Community ice access | One sheet closed for ~2 years | Can be phased for continuous access |
| Parking | ≈ 200 stalls on constrained site | 400+ stalls planned into site design |
| Primary benefit focus | Spectator capacity / Junior A | Everyday users: kids, families, adult rec |
Twin-rink figures are indicative and intended to prompt an apples-to-apples cost comparison. The key point: once we are in the $50-plus million range, it is reasonable to ask whether a new facility with more ice and better parking delivers greater long-term value.
A different way to think about rink infrastructure
This isn’t about being “for” or “against” investment in Strathcona Gardens. It’s about asking whether the current refurbishment plan is the best way to spend a very large sum of public money.
A well-located twin-rink complex could be designed from the ground up for:
- • Continuous ice access during construction.
- • Adequate on-site parking sized to real event demand.
- • Safer traffic circulation and better pedestrian access.
- • Room for tournaments, practices, public skates, and growth.
Our guiding idea
Two rinks. Zero shutdown. Full community access.
If we are ready to invest at this scale, we should be aiming for the outcome that best serves kids, families, seniors, and everyday users for the next 30–40 years.
How you can help the conversation
This page is meant to inform, not alarm. If you think Campbell River should look at a twin-rink option before committing $57 million to refurbishing one sheet of ice, here are some practical next steps.
• Ask the SRD to publish a full cost and parking comparison.
• Talk with your minor hockey, skating, and adult league reps.
• Share this site and start the discussion: thinkrink.ca