City Provides Update on Housing Project at 925 Columbia Avenue
The City of Castlegar is advancing plans for a new housing project at 925 Columbia Avenue, which will provide up to 78 new non-market housing units to help address the community’s growing need for affordable housing.
This project is a collaboration between the City of Castlegar, BC Housing, and Lu’ma Native BCH Housing Society. The City’s 2024 Interim Housing Needs Assessment identified a need for 708 additional housing units over the next five years to support seniors, young families, and individuals struggling to enter the housing market. This project will help meet that need by delivering modern, accessible housing in a central location.
“The City has been actively working to support the development of much-needed housing options in Castlegar,” said Mayor Maria McFaddin. “This project is an important step toward ensuring a variety of housing choices are available to meet the needs of our residents. Ensuring access to quality housing is a priority for Castlegar’s long-term livability.”
Pioneer Arena Closure and Legacy Recognition
As part of this transition, the Pioneer Arena will permanently close on March 2, 2025. In May 2024, the City announced the arena would remain open for the 2024/25 season before closing to allow for construction. With the season now coming to an end, the City acknowledges the significance of this closure for the community and ice user groups.
The Pioneer Arena has played an important role in the community for decades, and the City recognizes the strong connection many have to this space. While this chapter is coming to a close, the City remains committed to preserving the arena’s history.
To honour the arena’s legacy, Greg Nesteroff, a local historian, will present the history of the Pioneer Arena at the March 3, 2025, Council meeting at 7 p.m.
- Attend in person at 445 13th Avenue (Community Forum)
- Watch online via Zoom at castlegar.ca/councilmeetings
This historical overview and a link to the video presentation will also be available at castlegar.ca.
Recreation Planning and Community Engagement
The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) has been engaging with Castlegar and Areas I and J through a multi-phase process to reimagine the future of recreation services in the region. This initiative aims to gather resident feedback on current services, identify desired enhancements, and develop a long-term vision that reflects community priorities, including considerations related to the Pioneer Arena’s closure and a possible second sheet of ice.
The Reimagining Recreation Final Report will be released in early March 2025. The Final Report will include recommendations based on the information gathered throughout the engagement process as well as next steps. All related information, including the final report and each phase’s “What We Heard” reports, can be found at engage.rdck.ca.
Following the last operational day at the Pioneer Arena on March 2, 2025, RDCK staff will begin closing the facility, which includes removing the refrigeration plant and other essential equipment. This process will take approximately four weeks.
The City would like to acknowledge the many contributions of volunteers and community members to the Pioneer Arena’s success over the years. We also extend our appreciation to the RDCK and its staff for their dedication to operating the arena and supporting ice user groups.
What to Expect Next
Once the RDCK completes the decommissioning, the facility will be handed over to the City of Castlegar. After that, the project developer, Lu’ma Native BCH Housing Society, will begin site preparation. This will take one to two months and will include essential activities such as securing necessary permits, conducting geotechnical assessments, and finalizing the design. Demolition of the Pioneer Arena is expected to take place in June and will be coordinated with site preparation activities to ensure a smooth transition into construction. Construction of the new housing development is expected to begin in August and take approximately 18 months.
Project Evolution: Housing and Healthcare
The City originally envisioned this project as a combined housing and healthcare initiative, recognizing the need for both essential services in the community. Initially planned as a single building, the project has evolved into two separate buildings on the same site. This approach was taken to leverage separate funding streams and increase project eligibility. While the housing component is moving forward, the City remains committed to developing a team-based healthcare centre that will house physicians and clinic spaces to improve access to primary healthcare. The City continues to work with partners and is actively seeking funding for this important project.
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