Frequently Asked Questions

WEBSITE UPDATE IN PROGRESS

This website is currently being updated to reflect the new direction for Phase 2, including a new arena, expanded parking and a covered pathway.

Thank you for your patience while we update the project information.

This page will be updated regularly as new questions arise.  For additional inquiries, please contact recreate@srd.ca.

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ON THIS PAGE

Phase 2 - New Arena, Parking & Covered Path

A new third arena will be built over the existing parking lot on the south side of Strathcona Gardens. Additional parking will be developed on a portion of Pinecrest Park that the SRD will acquire to support the project, with the support of the City of Campbell River, and a covered pedestrian connection will extend through adjacent City-owned properties.

Both existing arenas will remain open during construction.

Parking at Pinecrest Park will provide approximately 370 additional parking spaces. Combined with parking provided on existing Strathcona Gardens land, this will create approximately 500 parking spaces serving Strathcona Gardens.

A traffic study is underway to assess traffic flow in the area. The proposed main vehicle access to the Pinecrest parking area will be from Merecroft Road.

A new approximately 220-metre paved, covered and well-lit walkway will connect the Pinecrest parking area to Strathcona Gardens. Accessible and priority parking will remain close to the facility.

The City and SRD intend to retain as many of the existing trees around Pinecrest Park as possible and minimize impacts wherever possible. An arborist assessment has been undertaken to help inform the parking area design and identify trees that can be retained.

The open turf area of Pinecrest Park will be converted to paved parking to support the new arena. At this stage, only a minimal number of trees are anticipated to require removal to accommodate the proposed parking area and site improvements.

As detailed design continues, tree retention, replacement planting if needed, landscaping and site buffering will be carefully considered to help preserve the area’s natural character and provide a buffer for neighbouring properties. Renderings showing the proposed parking area and trees intended to remain can be viewed here on page 3.

 Renderings showing the proposed parking area and trees intended to remain can be viewed here on page 3.

The Pinecrest Elementary school field will remain and is not affected by the project.

The current concept maintains the existing treed area between Pinecrest Elementary and the new parking area. Preserving this natural buffer and considering pedestrian safety for students and families will remain priorities as detailed design continues.

Safety and minimizing impacts on the surrounding community will remain priorities as the project design progresses. The new parking area and connecting pathway will be designed to provide safe, accessible connections for facility users and the public.

Particular attention will be given to pedestrian access and traffic circulation around Pinecrest Elementary, including the needs of students and families. The existing treed buffer between the school and the proposed parking area will be maintained.

Construction will also be carefully planned and coordinated to minimize impacts related to traffic, access, noise and pedestrian safety. Lighting will be designed to provide safe, well-lit routes while minimizing impacts on nearby homes.

Phase 1 – Aquatic Centre opens October 2026; Wellness Centre scheduled for completion in Summer 2027.

Phase 2 – Construction will be carefully phased to minimize impacts:

  • Parking & Covered Path: Construction planned for Spring 2027, with completion anticipated in Summer 2027.
  • New Arena: Construction planned to begin in Summer 2027, with completion anticipated in Summer 2029.

Yes! More details on parking, access, landscaping and connections will be shared as design progresses.

Follow the News & Construction Updates page and subscribe to REC-REATE project updates at RecreateSG.ca.

Strathcona Gardens is owned and operated by the Strathcona Regional District. The SRD continues to work closely with the City of Campbell River on the planned changes to Pinecrest Park, including parking and access improvements.

For City information about the project, visit campbellriver.ca/capital-projects.

Construction

Construction of Phase One began in August 2024, with the Aquatic Centre scheduled for completion by September 2026 and the Wellness Centre by spring 2027.

Phase 2 details will be shared as they become available.

The Aquatic Centre renewal is further along in the planning and design process and was always envisioned to be Phase One of facility upgrades. The Strathcona Gardens pool has an existing water leak(s) in it that has created voids underneath the pool basin, making it a higher priority for renovation than the arena.

There are two places where you can find the most up-to-date information about construction and its impact on our facility:

We also share major updates on our social media channels.

REC-REATE Project & Design

The Strathcona Gardens Recreation Complex is a well-loved and well-used recreational facility that contributes to the health and well-being of residents within the City of Campbell River, Electoral Area D and surrounding areas. It provides countless personal, social, and economic benefits to the public, and is integral to building strong communities. Key components of Strathcona Gardens were constructed in the 1970s. Through studies, we know that the facility is aging and is in need of renewal. More needs to be done to maintain and enhance this valued public asset.

The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) owns and operates Strathcona Gardens. The REC-REATE Strathcona Gardens revitalization project was created in planning for the future of the facility. The goal of REC-REATE is to renew the facility to address aging components which are nearing end of life and to meet the diverse and changing recreational needs of the community now and in the future.

REC-REATE grew out of recommendations from a 2015 needs assessment study and 2016 condition assessment.

The condition assessment told us that the facility is aging and needs renewal. The condition of the pool was of particular concern – the pool is at risk of failing at any time. Without a plan in place to build a new pool, the Aquatic Centre could be shut down, leaving the community with no indoor pool and preventing access to some of the critical programming it offers.

During the needs assessment, the public was asked to inform the SRD how they are doing and share ideas on how to better meet recreational needs and expectations. Through surveys and open houses with Electoral Area D and City of Campbell River residents, SRD staff heard the existing facility is at its capacity and more can be done to meet the needs of users. A number of potential actions were identified, including operational enhancements, business planning, and redevelopment of the building.

The Strathcona Gardens Commission, the governing body responsible for making decisions relating to the administration and operation of the Strathcona Gardens Recreation Complex, supported further investigations and the establishment of a reserve fund for future works.

REC-REATE Phase 1 – Aquatic Centre and Wellness Centre Project Stages

REC-REATE Phase 2 – Rod Brind’Amour Arena Redevelopment – Project Status

Deciding what would be included in the Phase One project was an iterative process, considering many different options. It included community feedback and approvals from the Strathcona Gardens Commission and the Regional Board of Directors. What resulted is a balance between the community’s needs vs. wants, the budget, space and the need to keep the existing pool open during construction.

Phase One – Aquatic and Wellness Centre

See design & learn more at: www.recreatesg.ca/aquatics

  • 8-lane 25m lap pool
  • 1m springboard
  • Climbing wall
  • Leisure pool
  • Beach entry
  • Tot splash zone with spray features
  • Lazy river
  • Wellness pool
  • Hot pool
  • Waterslide
  • Universal and gendered changerooms
  • Lifeguard room and first aid station
  • Outdoor aquatic patio
  • Outdoor social heart
  • Improved drop-off area
  • New landscaping
  • 3 multipurpose rooms

Wellness Centre

See design & learn more at: www.recreatesg.ca/wellness-areas

  • Wellness reception and waiting area
  • 4 new treatment rooms
  • 3 new assessment rooms
  • Large fitness rooms in renovated existing natatorium
  • New administrative offices
  • New reception area with office
  • Renovated lobby & gathering area

Financial

The cost to build Phase One, the new Aquatic Centre and Wellness spaces renovation, is $69.8 million. The estimated cost received to build Phase Two, the upgrade of the Rod Brind’Amour Arena, is $61.2 million. The total cost to build the REC-REATE Project is $131 million.

Phase One of the REC-REATE project — the new Aquatic Centre and Wellness spaces — will cost $69.8 million. There is enough funding available through existing tax levels and approved borrowing, so no new tax increase is needed for Phase One.

If Phase Two goes ahead, an additional tax increase of about $88 per average household would be added in 2026. This would help cover the cost of completing the remaining project work.

Most of the funding needed to repay the project loans was already approved by the SRD Board and included in property tax notices from 2023 to 2025. The 2026 increase would represent the final portion, but only if Bylaw No. 607 is adopted.

These costs are part of the overall tax support for Strathcona Gardens operations and improvements — they are not listed as a separate line on your tax bill.

The exact amount for each household may vary depending on property values, interest rates, and whether other communities are added to the service in the future.

Only property owners in Electoral Area D and the City of Campbell River pay taxes for the Strathcona Gardens service.

The Project is being funded through a combination of user fees, reserve funds allocated for this purpose, and borrowing. Only residents of Electoral Area D and the City of Campbell River contribute to the tax requisition that supports the borrowing.

Alternative Approval Process (AAP)

An Alternative Approval Process (AAP) is used to measure the level of support and provide legislative approval from the residents for the initiative and subsequent borrowing being proposed.

The Regional Board will typically advertise its intent and high-level information on the nature of the project, the amount of money required to be borrowed, and the financial impact on the residents should the approval process be successful. The borrowing initiative is deemed approved by the community if less than 10% of electors submit a petition objecting to the borrowing.

The Alternative Approval Process (AAP) for Phase One was successful, giving the Regional District the authority to borrow up to $64 million. This is the maximum borrowing limit — not necessarily the amount that will be used. If actual project costs are lower or the SRD secures grant funding, the full amount may not be required.

For Phase Two, the SRD is seeking approval to borrow up to $57.1 million. As with Phase One, this is a borrowing ceiling — the final amount borrowed will depend on construction costs and the availability of external funding. In May 2025, the Board approved proceeding with an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to seek elector approval for Bylaw No. 607, which authorizes the borrowing for Phase Two.

More information about Strathcona Gardens Alternative Approval Process can be found at: www.srd.ca/strathcona-gardens-aap

The Regional District is required by the Local Government Act to obtain the approval of the electors using an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) or a referendum vote.

The cost of an AAP is significantly less than seeking approval via referendum and is often preferred for that reason. If the AAP process isn’t successful (10% of electors submit written objection forms), the Regional Board then determines whether the proposal should be taken to a referendum.

The AAP is somewhat quicker, and time is a factor in this case for making a decision. An AAP is truly an opinion poll in that the Board may either proceed to adoption if there is little opposition or proceed with assent voting if ratepayer support is questionable.

If you supported the proposal, no action was required — only those opposed needed to submit a response form during the Alternative Approval Process (AAP).

If you were opposed to the proposal and did not want the Regional Board to adopt the related bylaw, you could submit a completed Elector Response Form as part of the AAP.

When the AAP was initiated:

  • The approved response form was made available by the Regional District.
  • Participants were required to submit an originally signed copy of the form in person or by mail to the Regional District corporate office at 990 Cedar Street, Campbell River, by the deadline specified in the public notice.
  • Forms sent by email or fax were not accepted.
  • After the deadline, each form was reviewed by the Corporate Officer to confirm its authenticity and verify the elector status of the person submitting it.
  • A report summarizing the results was then presented to the Regional Board.

Only eligible electors who lived in or owned property within the affected service area were permitted to submit a response form.

Further details, including form availability and submission deadlines, were provided on the Regional District’s website at www.srd.ca.

A total of 106 electors (0.32%) submitted valid forms through the Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to oppose the $64.6 million loan authorization bylaw.

Under the Alternative Approval Process, approval of the electors is obtained if the number of elector responses received is less than 10 percent of the number of electors within Campbell River and Area D (32,880 people).

The SRD initiated an AAP on July 25, 2025, seeking elector approval for Bylaw No. 607, which proposed borrowing up to $57.1 million to support the redevelopment of the Rod Brind’Amour Arena at the Strathcona Gardens Recreation Complex.

Over the two-month long process, which closed on September 22, 2025, a total of 1,813 electors (5.5%) submitted forms opposing the borrowing bylaw. Under the AAP process, elector approval is obtained if fewer than 10 percent of eligible voters—33,012 across Campbell River and Area D—submit forms in opposition.

At its October 22 meeting, the SRD Board of Directors reviewed the results and took time to reflect on the strong community response. Participation in this phase of the REC-REATE Project was significantly higher than in Phase One, and the feedback received showed a wide range of perspectives and ideas from residents.

Following adoption of the borrowing bylaw, the Board of Directors has chosen to take additional time to thoughtfully consider the feedback received during the AAP process. This will help ensure the project provides the greatest long-term value for the community while balancing current and future needs for arena space.

 

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The Strathcona Regional District respectfully acknowledges that the Strathcona Gardens Recreation Complex are located on the traditional unceded territory of the Ligʷiłdax̌ʷ people.