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Burnaby approves $18M toward new Burnaby Lake arena, pool

A pool and arena replacement planned for the Burnaby Lake area is edging closer to completion – $18 million closer, to be more precise.
burnaby lake pool arena
This aerial image shows where the construction of a replacement pool and arena will be constructed at the Burnaby Lakes Sports Complex.

A pool and arena replacement planned for the Burnaby Lake area is edging closer to completion – $18 million closer, to be more precise.

But that expenditure, recently approved by city council to pay for detailed design, regulatory matters and preliminary site servicing, will only make up a small portion of the total cost of the arena and pool replacement project, estimated at $158 million in all.

The CG Brown Memorial Pool and Burnaby Lake Ice Rink were built in the early 1960s, and they “no longer (meet) today’s public expectations for civic amenities,” according to staff, and in December 2018 the city kicked off the process of planning their replacement.

The two buildings make up two-thirds of a larger aquatic centre and arena at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex, attached to the 2,000-seat Bill Copeland Sports Centre.

If all goes as planned, the replacement could see construction beginning in the third quarter of 2021 and completion in the third quarter of 2024, according to the staff report.

Through public engagement, including a survey with 1,200 responses, speaking to more than 600 people at outreach events and speaking to stakeholder groups, the city outlined four priorities for the new facilities.

That includes building a larger and more diverse aquatics facility “that reflects the varying needs of the community” and building a multi-use facility. People also said they wanted more programming, including swim lessons and fitness classes.

Finally, people said they wanted a facility that would take advantage of its proximity to the natural setting of Burnaby Lake and its trails.