The City of Trail has confirmed steady progress on the Cominco Arena upgrades, with key construction milestones completed.
As of July, demolition of the former concrete slab and aging brine lines is finished.
Primary contractor Reward Construction Ltd. has now installed the new under-slab heated floor and sand base, moving the project into its next phase.
This work is part of a larger effort to modernize the facility.
Building on recent refrigeration plant upgrades, the city is developing a new ice surface that meets current safety and performance standards.
When complete, the rink will feature a poured concrete floor and new dasher boards with seamless acrylic glass, designed to match today’s NHL safety specifications.
The scope of the project includes full demolition of the existing infrastructure, excavation to replace the structural fill, and the installation of new heating and cooling piping loops.
The city says construction of the new ice surface remains on schedule, with reopening expected this October.
In the meantime, restricted access remains in place and residents are urged to use caution, as heavy construction vehicle traffic continues in the area and surrounding parking lot.
In May, the construction contract was awarded to Reward Construction, a firm with extensive experience in refrigerated floor projects, including Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Their team also brings local expertise, having worked on the Castlegar Complex and Trail’s Kid’s Rink.
This major upgrade was made possible through a mix of public and private support, including a $1 million USD donation from the Murphy Family Foundation, $2.5 million from the CleanBC Communities Fund, contributions from FortisBC, and an additional $100,000 from the Vancouver Canucks and LiUNA 1611.
