The Sun Peaks Centre is the name being bandied around by stakeholders when referring to the development of the NHL sized ice rink/indoor arena, being developed by the Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM).
The centre is being constructed on newly acquired Crown Land, a few minutes’ walk east of P5 in the East Village.
The first phase of the proposal — a refrigerated, outdoor, NHL sized ice rink — is already underway, with site work commencing as soon as the snow melted this year.
Construction of the rink will officially begin sometime in July, once an appropriate builder is selected by SPMRM.
Rob Bremner, chief administrative officer for the municipality, said expressions of interest for site builders had now closed, and council is expected to make a decision on a builder very shortly.
“When it comes to dealing with the pouring of these pads, it’s very specific, detailed and technical. Not many people will actually go near them. There’s only a few companies out there that do it,” Bremner said.
The ice rink is expected to be opened in time for the upcoming winter season, and would replace Sun Peaks Resort’s existing outdoor rink, which often melted and became unusable on warmer winter days.
The municipality is also leaving the door open on future expansions to the ice rink, submitting a grant application with the hopes of covering it with a dome-like roof.
The centre could then be used year round; as an indoor arena for concerts, conferences and special events during summer; and an ice rink through winter — though Bremner cautioned that this vision was entirely dependent on successful grant funding.
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