Airdrie council has endorsed a site master plan layout and amenity footprint for the city’s future Southwest Recreation Centre, selecting Option One in a 4–3 vote that was briefly thrown into confusion after a councillor reversed his position post-declaration.
The layout approved on June 3 will anchor the facility plan, beginning with aquatics and fitness, followed by a triple-sheet arena and multi-sport fieldhouse. Though not final design, the endorsed master plan sets the general footprint, massing and amenity scale to guide the next phase of schematic work.
City administration and GGA Architecture recommended Option One, saying it "meets the outcomes desired by the community, both the general public and our sport user groups," and aligns with multiple rounds of public consultation, sport user feedback, and technical analysis.
The vote initially proceeded with only Mayor Peter Brown and Councillor Heather Spearman opposed. Councillor Al Jones voiced support during the call, stating, "Assuming we can change the makeup of the inside of the buildings, I’m okay with the footprint."
Moments later, however, Jones asked for clarification and changed his vote.
"I just want to clarify," he said. "We did not just commit to three sheets of ice? We just committed to the footprint — correct — the inside of that building we haven’t committed to yet?"
Anderson replied: "The direction that we’d be giving at this point to the design firm, would be that we’re moving towards looking at three sheets of ice as the primary. We’re designing phase two and three right now as the primary boxes. Yes, that’s the direction."
Jones responded: "I was under the impression via my first question that that was not the case. I am opposed, Your Worship."
Brown acknowledged the reversal and closed the item. "That motion's carried. And Councillor Jones — I’m not even sure what the term is, we don’t have this happen very often."
No motion to reopen or reconsider the vote was introduced. The final result stands at four in favour — Councillors Darrell Belyk, Ron Chapman, Candice Kolson, and Tina Petrow — and three opposed: Mayor Peter Brown, Councillors Al Jones and Heather Spearman.
Council’s decision follows the May 27 endorsement by its Community and Corporate Services Committee, which also backed Option One. Administration said the recommendation reflected technical, operational, and public engagement priorities gathered since 2023.
Anderson said the three-phase layout was "not just blue-sky or completely abstract," but the culmination of layered planning and needs analysis.
Anderson and David Wittman of GGA Architecture said the selected layout offers several operational and design advantages, including:
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Multiple independent entrances and scalable parking for each program component
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Clear vehicle access from Southwinds Drive and 24th Street, including a proposed right-in/right-out at the north
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A north-side buffer separating buildings from adjacent residential lots
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Front-door visibility for the fitness centre and fieldhouse
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Pedestrian access from the adjacent future high school
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Efficient circulation and control points to separate public and paid-access zones
Wittman said the 308,000-square-foot facility — larger than Genesis Place by roughly 40,000 square feet — was "essentially a test fit" to guide schematic design.
"What I can guarantee you is your ultimate design is not going to look like any of these," he said. "These are recommendations on how to proceed for the next consultant… what principles are important to consider as that design evolves."
What’s included: pool, gym, rinks, fieldhouse
The aquatics area, as outlined in the report and presentation, includes:
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A 10-lane, 25-metre pool with optional diving infrastructure
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A warmup/cooldown lane for swim meets
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A separated leisure zone with a lazy river, water slides, and play features
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A cold plunge, hot tub, and universal change room area four times the size of Genesis Place’s equivalent
Anderson said the proposed configuration would allow swim lessons and club meets to run concurrently without interference.
"We do run swim lessons in the lazy river," he added. "Fifty-three per cent of our community has said they want to use aquatics for fun… Only about four per cent use the pool for lane swimming or clubs."
The recommended second phase consists of three ice rinks: two with 250 seats and a larger arena with 750-seat capacity — Airdrie’s largest rink to date.
Council heard that Airdrie’s current ratio of one sheet of ice per 18,000 residents would only meet demand for another nine years if the city chose the two-sheet configuration from Option Three instead.
"More sheets of ice over seating," Anderson said. "You’re not getting Taylor Swift in any of these options… but the amount of tournaments you can host in a triple-sheet arena is certainly going to be great."
Wittman said a 2,000-seat event bowl would cost roughly 1.5 times more than a standard rink and require expanded parking.
"Based on our experience and research," he said, "the return on the investment of a triple sheet is going to far outweigh the revenue you’d bring in through concert venues."
Bowl vs. triple-sheet: event centre vision divides council
Despite selecting Option One, the event-centre design of Option Three dominated much of the June 3 debate.
Anderson confirmed 45 per cent of survey respondents indicated they wanted Airdrie to host more events — but administration emphasized the triple-sheet format aligned better with community sport group feedback.
Coun. Heather Spearman urged council not to miss a generational opportunity.
"We’re the only organization that can build an event space like a bowl," she said. "We have the space to do it… We may not do it for another 20 or 30 years."
Spearman said a bowl could serve trade shows, cultural festivals, and professional conferences.
"There’s a lot going on in the CrossIron Mills parking lot these days that they’re making a killing at," she added. "Taste of Nations was packed for hours… We don’t have a space that has that capacity."
Brown questioned whether current rinks were even at capacity. "I go to the arenas on Saturdays and Sundays," he said. "I used to send you texts with pictures of empty arenas… I don’t understand this."
Kolson and Petrow noted that most events Spearman described didn’t require fixed spectator seating.
"If you want an event centre, we’ve got to look at how many gymnasiums we’re putting on the site — or a convention centre," Kolson said. "You’re not going to put Taste of Nations in a bowl."
"You’ve got the Max Bell Arena with a seating capacity of 2,100 people, 17 minutes away," she added.
Anderson reiterated council’s direction in 2023 to scope the project to community needs.
"If this was a sport tourism designed facility, it would have looked nothing like what we’re presenting," he said.
TNC expansion report coming July 2
Brown asked why Airdrie’s tourism coordinator was absent and requested data on what surrounding municipalities have done to justify or sustain large-scale venues.
"I don’t have a lot of math here to understand what’s a win," he said. "I’m really confused… I used to get calls from ice user groups saying we need all this ice. But the arenas aren’t always full. What is the best win?"
Prior to the master site plan vote, the mayor asked administration about Airdrie’s current event-hosting capacity at the Town and Country Centre.
"We have lots of people that want bigger than 500," Brown said. "Where is that in the queue? In the 10-year plan?"
City planner Michelle Lock confirmed a report is coming to council July 2 outlining options to expand the TNC.
"That would allow increased opportunities and capacity within some type of community hall configuration on that site," she said.
Project timeline and next steps
Council’s endorsement now unlocks the finalization of the functional report, which will be handed over to a competitively procured prime design consultant. Council’s next input is expected this fall as schematic design begins. In parallel, administration will bring forward recommendations on project governance and final design principles.
Construction of the southwest recreation centre will occur in phases over the next decade. According to city documents, land was acquired in 2018 and site master planning began in 2024.
Design work is scheduled through 2026, with Phase I construction beginning that year and public opening targeted for late 2028. Phases II and III — including the arena and fieldhouse — are expected to open between 2030 and 2035.
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