Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre (new)

The current Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre (HJCRC) was constructed in 1966 and has a variety of amenities, including fitness rooms, ice arena, 25 metre pool, sauna, whirlpool, and steam room. Though it has served the community well, the facility has reached end of life and replacement is needed.

The new HJCRC will be designed to the highest accessibility standards and will be a people-oriented community gathering place. The new HJCRC will include: 

• Community atrium and gathering area
• Arena with an NHL-size ice rink and seating for up to 500
• Enhanced aquatics centre
• Large leisure pool
• Multipurpose spaces
• Fitness area
• Preschool and early years spaces
• Full sized gymnasium 
• Youth and arts spaces 
• Outdoor area with a new skate park, play areas, and a multisport court

With a temporary closure during construction, what changes can I expect as a Harry Jerome Rec user?

During construction of the new facility, HJCRC programs and services will be temporarily impacted. North Vancouver Recreation and Culture Commission staff are preparing a plan that will relocate programming as possible to other facilities. Other aquatics and arena facilities will experience increased use to accommodate these programs where possible. The adjustments will be similar to those required during the closure and construction of the Delbrook Community Recreation Centre.

Why is the existing centre closing during construction rather than staying open?

The new HJCRC is the largest investment in community recreation the City has ever delivered. A project such as this one is expensive and requires the City to plan strategically. In the fall of 2018, Council directed staff to investigate ways to reduce the financial risks associated with the project so that the project could proceed confidently and in a timely manner. Staff made several recommendations to Council that would enable this facility to move forward with minimal risk.

Closing the facility, as well as leasing and developing the existing HJCRC lands allows the City to have cash in hand during construction. Being able to pay for the centre upfront mitigates much of the financial risk. Without closing during construction the City would have had to take on significant debt, which would have limited capacity to respond to other infrastructure requirements.  Council determined this was an unacceptable level of risk for the organization and the community.