The Canada Games Aquatic Centre Infrastructure Improvement Project at the Tournament Capital Centre in Kamloops, B.C. is officially complete.
The $13.5 million project received $1.370 million from the Government of Canada’s Investing in
Canada Infrastructure Program and $1.142 million from the Province of British Columbia through the CleanBC Communities Fund Program to support energy efficiency upgrades. It is the first project funded by this grant to be completed.
This project was driven by the need to replace aging critical infrastructure and provided an opportunity to improve the environmental performance of the building. Aside from extending
the life of the building, these updates will significantly improve the energy efficiency of the
building, lower the greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the use of natural gas, and makes the building more sustainable.
For example, a large air handler at the back of the building now regulates the temperature and
humidity of the air within the pool area. It also uses a heat recovery system to offset the need to burn natural gas to meet the thermal demands of the building. In a pool environment, a large component of the facility’s energy use is to heat the water. This heat constantly evaporates off the water creating humidity which is then expelled from the building.
With the new HVAC systems, this relatively hot and humid exhaust air is now recovered and used to warm the new air entering the building. Other updates include:
- New roof, walls, and door systems;
- Updated mechanical, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems;
- New boilers;
- High efficiency light-emitting diode (LED) lighting; and
- New high-efficiency whirlpool, steam room, and sauna.
In addition, sustainable practices were prioritized during construction resulting in 97 per cent of construction waste being diverted from the landfill.
“As a swimmer and lover of aquatic sports, I’m pleased the Canada Games Aquatic Centre in Kamloops will not only support healthy lifestyles, but will also reduce its carbon footprint and
contribute to a greener and more active future for generations to come,” said Catherine McKenna, minister of infrastructure and communities. “Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country, and builds cleaner, more inclusive communities.”
