The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) and the Town of Oliver are pleased to announce construction has begun on the Oliver and District Arena Rehabilitation project. The arena is located at 665 McKinney Road in Oliver. 

The Oliver and District Arena was built in 1968 and was the second ice facility to be established in the South Okanagan. The facility has been in use for more than five decades and many key components of the building have reached the end of their useful life. 

“I am pleased that the project is getting underway,” said Electoral Area “C” Director Rick Knodel. “This is a very important part of our Parks and Recreation infrastructure.” 

The overall cost of the project is estimated at $3.844 million. Grant funding for the upgrade project of $2.306 million has been approved by The Government of Canada through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) – Community, Culture and Recreation (CCR). The remaining funds, $1.537 million, will come from operating and capital reserves and borrowing. The borrowing was approved under the Oliver and District Arena Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2844, 2019. 

The RDOS awarded the construction contract to Wildstone Construction Ltd. at the April 18, 2024, RDOS Board of Directors meeting. 

The project will include:

• Replacement of the arena ice slab and the rink dasher board system
• Installation of an energy recovery system and upgrades to the arena refrigeration system controls
• Completion of code upgrades to the life safety system
• Renovations to dressing rooms and washrooms to meet current accessibility standards
• Renovations to the kitchen 

“The Oliver hockey rink is a very important part of the Osoyoos Indian Band’s relationship with the local community,” said Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie. “For over 50 years, Osoyoos Indian Band members have rented ice time, played in hockey tournaments and met many lifelong friends at the Oliver rink. Many important memories are located in that hockey rink and many future memories will be created there. We look forward to the arena construction project as that rink and the game of hockey, figure skating, and public skating bring our people, especially the kids, closer together.” 

“We are grateful that this project is now underway as its completion will ensure the Oliver and District Arena will remain a fixture in our community and continue to serve the residents of the Oliver area for decades to come,” said Town of Oliver Mayor Martin Johansen. 

The arena will not be available for public use during construction. The majority of work at the site is planned to be completed by early fall 2024 to prepare for ice season. A construction staging area has been set up in the parking lot west of the arena. 

For further information, please contact Kyle Gabelhei, RDOS Projects Supervisor, or Carol Sheridan, Town of Oliver Director of Recreation. 

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Mark Pendergraft, Chair
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen 

Clarence Louie, Chief
Osoyoos Indian Band 

Rick Knodel, Electoral Area “C” Director
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen 

Martin Johansen, Mayor
Town of Oliver 

Contacts: 

Kyle Gabelhei
RDOS Projects Supervisor
250-490-4381 

Carol Sheridan
Director of Recreation, Town of Oliver
250-498-4985, ext. 601 

RDOS Communications
250-490-4148
Toll-Free 1-877-610-3737

Map of construction staging area
Oliver and District Arena, 665 McKinney Road, Oliver