News release
For immediate release

Saanich, BC – The District of Saanich will receive more than $2.8 million through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program - CleanBC Communities Fund toward its G.R. Pearkes Community Recreation Centre heat recovery and mechanical upgrade project.

The facility’s current HVAC equipment is at its end of life and due for replacement. Through this project, Saanich will replace and expand its heat recovery system to the existing ice plant to offset the building’s heating and domestic hot water energy use.

The renewed HVAC system will provide many long-lasting benefits. It will reduce the building’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), help mitigate maintenance costs on existing mechanical systems, increase redundancy of heating sources in the building, and improve ventilation and air filtration for the fieldhouse. In addition, the upgraded system will enhance user experience for centre patrons and user-groups with improved, consistent heating and cooling throughout the facility.

The estimated project budget is $3.9 million which includes municipal capital funding, as well as approximately $1.3 million from the Province and more than $1.5 million from the federal government. Construction is expected to start in Fall 2023 with completion in late 2024. The project construction may result in temporary service interruptions with minimal impact to patrons and user-groups.

G.R. Pearkes Community Recreation Centre is a community hub welcoming more than 425,000 visitors annually. It houses two ice rinks, dressing rooms, a fitness gym, four sports courts, Saanich Neighborhood Place (a non-profit delivering family services and programs), the Saanich Centennial Public Library, a fieldhouse/trade show space, teen activity centre, several multi-purpose rooms and offices.

Quick facts 

• G.R. Pearkes Community Recreation Centre currently accounts for approximately 310 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) annually or 12 per cent of Saanich’s total corporate building emissions.
• The heat recovery and mechanical upgrade project will reduce the centre’s GHG emissions by approximately 85 per cent, which is equivalent to removing about 80 cars from the road in Canada. This emissions reduction will contribute to Saanich’s Climate Plan targets of 50 per cent reduction in corporate GHG emissions by 2025 and 100 per cent renewable energy from municipal operations by 2040.

Quotes

“Our partnership with British Columbia, through the CleanBC Communities Fund, is about helping places like Saanich strive towards a cleaner, low-carbon future. Investments in green infrastructure are essential to building healthy, resilient, and sustainable communities in Canada. Through a federal contribution of over $1.5 million, Saanich will be able to reduce the G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre’s emissions by 85 per cent via energy retrofits, which will help the District achieve its emissions reduction objectives.”
--The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources

“Our government is helping local governments like Saanich build a better future for people in their communities by accelerating climate action in partnership with the federal government. This new CleanBC project will improve an important community resource by upgrading Pearkes Recreation Centre with cleaner, more innovative energy systems that will cut climate pollution, improve air filtration and lower maintenance costs.”
--Rob Fleming, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake

“We are incredibly grateful to receive funding toward this energy retrofit. These upgrades at our well-used community centre supports our goal of reducing carbon emissions and increased energy efficiency in our municipal facilities with an added benefit of improving comfort for our patrons.”
--Mayor Fred Haynes

Learn more

More information, including potential temporary service disruptions, will be available on saanich.ca as the project progresses.

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Media contact:
Megan Catalano
Communications Manager
megan.catalano@saanich.ca
250-475-7639