Trail council took a significant step toward upgrading the Trail Memorial Centre on Monday night by awarding $2.62 million in contracts.
These contracts include the Cominco Arena Refrigerated Floor Replacement, awarded to Reward Construction Ltd. at a base price of $1,894,000, and the supply and installation of new dasher board infrastructure, awarded to Athletica Sport Systems Inc. at a base price of $729,000.
Both amounts are exclusive of applicable taxes, fees, and charges.
These work contracts emerged as the city marked the Trail Memorial Centre’s 75th anniversary in 2024, highlighting its longstanding commitment to serving numerous user groups with a wide range of services.
One of its most notable features, the Cominco Arena, has a concrete refrigerated floor with underground piping infrastructure that was last replaced in 1969. After 56 years of use, this system is showing signs of aging and deterioration.
During the start-up of the refrigeration plant, staff have increasingly encountered leaks in the piping system. In recent years, these leaks have become more frequent, requiring immediate repairs to avoid disruptions during the ice season. For example, during the 2024 start-up sequence, six leaks were identified and repaired prior to ice-making.
The arena’s current dasher board system, constructed with a wooden frame and a Lexan layer, no longer meets modern specifications. Its corner radii are too steep, and the structure lacks elasticity, which compromises performance and safety.
Throughout 2024, city staff worked with the Trail Smoke Eaters organization to update the Facilities Use Agreement. The resulting agreement, approved through resolution 202-24, includes a five-year term with a renewal option and commits to upgrading the dasher boards, concrete floor system, and glass.
Design and planning for these upgrades began in collaboration with consultants, and a customized dasher board system was selected based on input from both city staff and the team’s representatives.
Budget
In the city’s 2024-2028 Five-Year Financial Plan, $2.5 million was budgeted for the project in 2025. However, the anticipated total cost has risen to $2,623,000, which includes all construction works related to the refrigerated floor and mechanical systems, as well as new dasher boards and a glass system. This represents a $123,000 overage.
To ensure quality control throughout the project, additional consultant oversight will be required, and, according to the city, this cost will be covered through surplus funds remaining in the 2024 design budget.
In 2024, the city also secured a significant donation from the Murphy Family Foundation, as per council resolution 203-24. The $1,000,000 USD contribution will be used to offset the project’s associated costs.
Tendering
The city issued an Invitation to Tender for the project in December through its website, BC Bid, and CivicInfo.
Two bids were received: ANR Construction Ltd.: $1,709,000 (exclusive of tax); and Reward Construction Ltd.: $1,894,000 (exclusive of tax).
Council selected Reward Construction Ltd. due to its extensive experience and specialization in refrigerated floor construction. Since 2008, the company has focused exclusively on this type of work, completing projects such as the Kid’s Rink upgrades at the Trail Memorial Center, the Castlegar Complex replacement, and Rogers Place Arena in Edmonton.
Reward also met the city’s requirement for at least three ammonia refrigeration projects worth over $500,000 in the past two years, having completed 14 such projects in 2023 and 2024. ANR Construction, by contrast, did not provide examples of similar projects.
Timeline
Construction is scheduled to begin after the conclusion of the Smoke Eater’s season and playoffs, potentially delaying the initial start date of April 30.
Reward Construction plans to order materials immediately to minimize delays.
The anticipated completion date for the project is Sept. 30, 2025.
While staff had requested the ice be ready by Sept. 13, Reward Construction indicated this timeline would be too aggressive. Ice-making, which requires an additional two weeks, is expected to be complete by Oct. 13, 2025.
City staff have been in discussions with user groups since the design phase to provide advance notice of potential disruptions. As the project progresses, staff says they will continue to update these groups on the scope of work and key milestones to ensure a smooth transition.
