During repair work at the Kinsmen Community Arenas, issues were found with the chiller, resulting in it needing to be replaced. On Tuesday, City Council will consider a budget request for $350,000 to replace the chiller.
While replacement is required for long term use, administration is looking into other interim options, including the option of renting one to allow for the ice surfaces to be available before a new chiller can be installed.
“We are cautiously optimistic that we will be able to find a rental chiller for the 2024 – 2025 season; however, we are also preparing for the worst-case scenario,” said Curtis Martinek, Facilities & Asset Management Superintendent. “If we are unable to find a rental chiller, and Council approves the budget request, we are looking at a delay in opening the Kinsmen Community Arenas anywhere from mid-November to mid-December.”
This delay in opening would result in only four City-run indoor ice facilities being available for the start of the indoor ice season, which impacts all sport groups in the area that rely on The City’s indoor ice surfaces. Administration has been working behind the scenes with local amenity partners, including Westerner Park and Red Deer Polytechnic to see if there are any opportunities for ice time this fall if the delayed opening takes place.
“We have reached out to our sport groups with information about the potential delay in opening of the Kinsmen Community Arenas,” said Barb McKee, Recreation Superintendent. “We will be working to revise rental permitting that has been previously shared with sport groups - we anticipate that the majority of rental permits will need to be revised with a proportionate reduction in ice access across all our community rental groups. We anticipate having revised permits back to Sport Partners by August 30.”
The chiller is the main piece of equipment that allows ice to be made at the twin arenas. It cools brine water and provides cooling. The brine water's chemical properties keep it from freezing. To freeze the rink surface, the system pumps chilled brine water through the pipes and then into the ice-bearing concrete slab.