Lumby arena showcases upcoming Hockeyville renovations

LUMBY – Female skaters in Lumby are set to see better facilities as the Pat Duke Arena gears up to spend cash sprucing up the facility.

In 2016 the Pat Duke Arena in Lumby won Kraft Hockeyville 2016 receiving $100,000 to improve the facility. A press release from the Regional District of North Okanagan says the arena has an insufficient number of change rooms and female ice users have inadequate facilities during co-ed ice times. The arena has also seen an increase in the number of female participants using the centre.

The district says the plan is to create four new change rooms through expansion and renovation of the existing building and as well as renovating two existing change rooms. The renovations will also include storage, upgraded referee facilities, and a heated lobby and viewing area. All the renovations will meet current accessibility standards, which, due to its age, the current building does not meet. 

The district is currently finalizing the draft concept plan and cost, which, once complete will be shown to the community at an open house which they hope will take place in February.

The arena also received a huge influx of cash last March when it was awarded a $2,595,625 grant from the federal Gas Tax fund. The grant doubled the White Valley Parks, Recreation, and Culture 2019 budget (which received Regional District approval on Jan. 9) from $2,006,240 to $4,728, 269. The budget also proposed a two-to-three per cent tax increase on average property owners to cover costs outside the arena.

The budget also asked for an additional $6,300 to provide extra hours at the White Valley Community Centre and $8,000 for extra pool hours and chemical supplies. An inflationary 2.2 per cent salary and wage increase for Lumby staff was requested in the budget.

— With files from Sean Mott

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.