The District of Squamish says it cannot yet confirm when the ice rink at Brennan Park Recreation Centre will reopen, following unexpected humidity issues that forced its closure at the start of the season.
In a Q&A, District says the problem was caused by several factors, including unusual weather, the temporary removal of a wall during renovations, and strain on the arena’s dehumidifiers. District says humidity problems first appeared in early August during ice-making preparations. Staff managed to control conditions until Labour Day weekend, when humidity levels spiked 25–35% above normal design limits. “This led to elevated condensation in the form of water droplets falling onto the ice surface, posing unsafe ice conditions,” the District said.
To address the issue, contractors have activated the facility’s new HVAC system, drained the pool for annual maintenance, and secured two large industrial dehumidifiers with a diesel generator. Specialty parts for existing dehumidifiers are also being flown in and a mechanical engineer has been brought in to validate the plan.
Other measures include reinforcing the temporary wall between the lobby and the rink, beginning replacement of the Zamboni bay garage door, and exploring a temporary vestibule entrance to better control airflow.
Arena programming is cancelled until at least September 12. The District says it will continue renovations to reinstate the missing partition wall and restore the mechanical systems. Pausing construction would not resolve the current issues.
The rink closure comes during a $21-million Phase 1 renovation project at Brennan Park, which includes upgrades to heating and cooling systems, roof insulation, accessibility improvements, changerooms, and lobby space. The District acknowledged frustrations from arena users and said reopening the rink is a top priority. “Our commitment to the community is to solve this issue as quickly as possible so that your season can resume,” the statement said.
Budget discussions in October will consider future upgrades, including community requests for a second ice sheet and pool expansion. These additions would require significant external funding, it said.
