The City of Prince Rupert is taking meaningful, proactive steps to modernize and future-proof one of its most important community assets. The Prince Rupert Recreation Complex, built in 1971 and expanded in 1982, is facing aging mechanical systems and rising climate pressures. The City is now developing a 5 to 10year retrofit plan to improve energy performance, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure the well-loved arena, pool, and fitness centre can continue serving residents reliably in a changing climate.
Through the Canadian Urban Institute’s Climate Ready Infrastructure Service (CRIS), the City received expert technical support at no cost to evaluate the facility’s refrigeration system, boilers, controls, heatrecovery potential, and wateruse efficiency. The analysis recommends a suite of upgrades including replacing the aging iceplant chiller, consolidating boiler loops, installing a heatrecovery chiller, and switching to lowflow fixtures. These upgrades would significantly reduce natural gas use, lower water consumption, and modernize critical equipment.
This work will ensure Prince Rupert makes smart, costeffective decisions about a facility thousands of residents rely on. It’s a timely example of how small communities are preparing essential infrastructure for the realities of climate change while keeping longterm operating costs in check.
“This study will provide us with a roadmap on how to improve our recreation facilities. It will support grant applications, outlining replacement needs for end of life of equipment, work towards overall GHG reductions for our community, as well as overall asset management and capital budget planning”, says Nicole Beauregard, Director of Recreation and Community Service for the City of Prince Rupert.
