Town of Banff

Project Need

It is the Town of Banff’s intention to redevelop and expand the existing Recreation Centre to address both the existing and unmet recreational needs of Banff residents.  In 1958 the need for a community centre in Banff was formally identified. Due to the lack of available funds a Recreation Centre was built in place of the community centre and consisted of a hockey/skating rink, and curling rink and lounge. A multi-use recreation facility is envisioned including skating, hockey and curling ice, weight room/fitness amenities and gymnasium as well as a leisure pool.

Since 1958, no less than five recreation master plan and facility development plans have been completed, all continuing to indicate the requirement for a multipurpose recreational facility to meet the sport, recreational and cultural needs of the community. A life cycle analysis of the existing Recreation Centre facility was undertaken in 2001 to assess, identify and compile detailed physical condition data including the age of various facility components, current maintenance and operating costs, an estimate of the current replacement value and an estimate of preservation needs required over the next twenty years to maintain the facility in its current state.  Results of the LCA indicated that significant funding was required to extend the useful life of the building.  These costs did not address the building’s shortcomings, nor the additional unmet community needs.

Also in 2001, the Town of Banff conducted a formal, statistically valid survey on community recreation facility needs to inform the programming components of a community multi-purpose recreation facility. The results indicated that Banff residents were interested in arena and curling ice, a weight room, gymnasium and fitness facilities, program and activity space, as well as a leisure pool. 

In 2007, a recreation facility open house was held with residents again confirming through a survey that the aforementioned facility components were still very much in demand.