Kinsmen Aquatic Park, Cenovus Arena at Big Marble Go Centre to receive significant upgrades in 2024

Medicine Hat, AB – The Big Marble Go Centre will see major upgrades in 2024 on both the pool and arena infrastructure to ensure the longevity of the facility. The Cenovus Arena will close from the middle of April 2024 until July, while the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre will be closed from May to September.

The 2023-2024 capital budget included $100,000 to rebuild the ice plant and $2.8 million to replace water filters, pool filters (which are original to the building), upgrade amenities and address staff safety by improving access to the wave pool surge tanks.

“With a project of this scope, we weigh the benefits of a longer, single, scheduled shut down period to minimize the risk of multiple unscheduled disruptions, versus repairing individual building components as they fail, which may lead to interrupted programming and longer wait times,” said Jeff Hoglund, Director of Fleet, Facilities and Asset Management.

“Now that the building systems are nearly a quarter-century old, it’s beneficial to make scheduled component replacements and take care of these two significant upgrades at once rather than risk unscheduled closure. This way, we’re back to full operation sooner to start fresh for the fall swim and ice seasons,” adds Hoglund.

The City’s realty asset management plan prescribes regular condition assessments at City-owned facilities and identifies timing for planned upgrades and maintenance to extend the life of an asset, operate more efficiently, and reduce the risk of unplanned breakdowns and disruptions.

Manager of Recreation Lisa Kennedy confirms swim and ice user groups who typically operate out of the Big Marble Go Centre have been made aware of the shutdown.

“We’re working with our community partners to accommodate them in other pools and arenas so that the impact to their own operation is minimized. We have levers we can pull, like extending hours at our other facilities, but it will require all users to be flexible during the upgrades,” adds Kennedy.

The gymnasium, fieldhouse and South Country Co-op Fitness Centre at the Big Marble Go Centre will remain open during the work. Staff are working to determine adjustments for admission and membership fees to reflect the impacts of the work.

Updates will be shared regularly at www.medicinehat.ca/bmgc.

The Big Marble Go Centre opened in 2000 (as the Family Leisure Centre) with an Olympic-sized ice arena and aquatic centre. An expansion in 2016 added a quad gymnasium, a double indoor boarded turf fieldhouse, and an upper-level fitness centre complete with an indoor track.