Red Deer council approves Kinsmen Community Arenas repair

Red Deer City Council approved a $350,000 budget request to replace the chiller at the Kinsmen Community Arenas.  

The project will be funded through the Capital Projects Reserve.  

The part is expected to arrive in 14 weeks and will take two weeks to install. Ice will then be installed, taking an additional 10 days.   

The chiller is the main piece of equipment that allows the 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 pipes and into the ice-bearing concrete slab.   

If there are no delays, the arenas are projected to open in mid-November at the earliest.  

Going forward, city administration is working to revise rental permits that were previously shared with sports groups, with a reduction in ice access.  

Updated permits are expected to be completed and sent to sports partners by the end of August.