Planned repairs at Karen Magnussen Arena are expected to significantly disrupt the North Shore Inline Hockey League’s 2027 season, and staff are still looking for ways to accommodate its approximately 1,300 players.
An August 27 report in the District of North Vancouver’s October 5 council agenda says construction is anticipated during spring and summer 2027, when the arena normally hosts dry-floor activities. The $3-million project will replace the aging under-floor cooling system, concrete slab and arena boards. Recent leaks have highlighted the risk of a major failure that could force an unplanned closure.
The league launched a petition and advocacy campaign in August seeking a delay and asking that long-term planning consider a dedicated inline hockey facility on the North Shore, according to the report.
Staff say delaying the work would increase the risk of infrastructure failure, emergency repair costs and unexpected disruption.
North Vancouver Recreation and Culture began communicating with league staff in April about potential impacts and alternative venues. Staff subsequently met with the league’s board to discuss the urgency of the repairs and possible mitigation measures.
The report says a spring and summer closure will most affect inline hockey, while a fall closure would affect more than 7,000 users across rental groups, recreation programs and community programs. Dry-floor recreation programs and summer camps will also be affected.
Options under review include creating additional playing time at Harry Jerome Arena, adjusting league schedules, seeking temporary space in neighbouring communities and refining the construction schedule where practical. Harry Jerome could accommodate some displaced inline hockey, but it is already heavily used and cannot support the league’s full programming and traditional schedule.
The league’s specialized flooring also requires a suitably sized venue and compatible activities. Competitive lacrosse uses a standard concrete surface, creating another constraint.
As of the report, no single facility had been identified that could fully replace Karen Magnussen Arena’s capacity and configuration. Staff were exploring options with Squamish Nation, West Vancouver, Burnaby and Vancouver.
Council has separately approved $500,000 to advance planning for the recreation centre’s eventual renewal or replacement. Funding for a full renewal or replacement is not currently included in the financial plan. The council will discuss the issue at a meeting on Monday, October 5.
