Ontario Construction News staff writer
Renovations at the Lake of Bays Arena has been delayed due to “unforeseen delays related to the replacement of the arena’s ice plant,” the township announced last week.
Supply chain challenges, compounded by shipping delays during recent labour strikes in Canada, have had a significant impact on the replacement timeline and the completion date is now Oct. 30.
Township council received a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2019 to modernize the arena’s aging 1979 ice plant, aligning with a commitment to environmentally friendly practices, by including geothermal technology.
Once installed, the new ice plant is expected to generate significant cost savings, reduce the carbon footprint and reduce the amount of refrigerant required. Importantly. Also, new equipment eliminates the need to burn propane to heat the building.