Indoor Recreation Facilities Master Plan

In 2017, an Indoor Recreation Facilities Master Plan was implemented that looks at the long term future of the region in the context of its changing environment, demography, emerging priorities and needs for indoor recreation facilities and spaces.  The Master Plan serves as a guiding document for the Comox Valley sports centre commission and the staff and board of directors of the CVRD providing high level strategic direction, identification of priorities, and tactical recommendations for implementation.

GDH Solutions with Carscadden Stokes McDonald Architects lead the process and provided technical and consultant expertise in the development of an Indoor Recreation Facilities Master Plan, taking into consideration local input and what can realistically be afforded over the next ten years.

Indoor Recreation Facilities Master Plan Report - Part 1
Indoor Recreation Facilities Master Plan Report - Part 2

Public Consultation

Public engagement sessions were held to hear from current users of the CVRD facilities as well as community members who have an interest in indoor regional recreational facilities. The CVRD has three major recreation facilities - the Sports Centre, the Aquatic Centre and the Curling Centre.

Community Workshops

Focus groups and workshops were offered to anyone living in the Comox Valley Regional District, Courtenay, Comox or Cumberland, with an interest in the future of indoor recreation in the Valley. This was an opportunity for everyone to get involved and provide information on current and future needs for indoor recreation facilities and spaces.

The consultant presented an overview of the project with an update of progress to date, and facilitated a discussion on a vision for the future of indoor recreation at a public open house.

Background Information

In the region, there are three recreation departments and initiatives in each of the three municipalities which serve their own residents as well as rural residents.  In addition the CVRD has established the Comox Valley Recreation Complexes Service for the purpose of enlarging, operating and maintaining ice arena-swimming pool complexes, curling centre and to contribute towards the cost of existing community use facilities and structures in the service area.  Participants in the CVRD service include the City of Courtenay, the Town of Comox, Village of Cumberland and the residents of electoral areas ‘A’, ‘B’, and  ‘C’ but does not include Denman and Hornby Islands.  The service is overseen on behalf of the CVRD by the Comox Valley sports centre commission.

The CVRD service includes the direct operation of two major recreation centres being the Comox Valley Sports Centre and the Comox Valley Aquatic Centre.  A third facility owned by the CVRD is the recently upgraded Comox Valley Curling Centre which is leased to and operated by the Comox Valley Curling Club.

The CVRD recreation services are delivered at a cost of approximately $6,500,000 per year of which approximately 33 percent is recovered through user revenues and grants.