Peace River town council has approved an increase to the Baytex Energy Centre’s Fieldhouse Wall capital budget.
The decision was reached at council’s regular meeting June 8.
Peace River’s 2026 capital budget included the construction of an aluminum-framed tempered glass wall to separate the fieldhouse from the changeroom hallway at the centre. The wall is meant to improve separation between the spaces and to address operational conflicts between ice users and track/fieldhouse users under the current open-concept layout.
“Right now, we’re having a lot of conflicting uses and behaviours between user groups on either side of the existing railing,” says director of Community Services Tanya Bell.
The project was just tendered out with a closing date of a couple weeks ago, and the two received tenders were both over the initial approved $150,000 capital budget. Total project cost would now be $178,421.
“We are requesting council consider increasing the project by $30,000,” said Bell.
“This allows administration to proceed with the project and provides a very small contingency in the event that something during installation occurs,” she added.
Bell explains over the six years the Baytex Energy Centre has been open there have been consistent problems with users of the ice side of the facility using the changeroom hallway and the fieldhouse track and courts when they weren’t authorized to do so. This has posed some safety issues and a solution needed to be found to halt individuals from going to courtside without authority.
Council decided unanimously to approve the increase, with additional funding coming from tax-supported capital reserve.
Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter