Is Brennan Park getting a second ice rink or a new pool?

Not yet. No option has been chosen, priced or funded. The task force's final report with options is expected in 2027, and council would decide after that.

Is Brennan Park closing?

No closure has been announced. The first renovation finished in July 2026, and the 2027 plan pays for repairs to the pool and arena so the building keeps running while the long term plan is worked out.

How much would a new recreation centre cost?

Nobody knows yet. Staff told council on October 6, 2026 that there is no cost estimate, and rough estimates are part of the task force's work.

Will there be a referendum on Brennan Park?

Only if council chooses one. Borrowing needs voter approval, either through an alternative approval process or a referendum. Councillor DesJardins promised to push for a referendum on any big expansion.

How can I have my say?

Watch for the task force survey and the What We Heard report, comment on the 2027 budget at letstalksquamish.ca/budget-2027, or email budgetfeedback@squamish.ca. The District says a budget workshop for the new council and a public information night are coming, with dates still to be announced.

← Quick answers

What is happening with Brennan Park Recreation Centre?

Brennan Park just finished a $21 million first round of green and accessibility renovations, but there is still no approved plan, cost estimate or money to expand it or replace it with a second ice rink or a bigger pool. A District staff team called the Recreation Centre Task Force is studying options with consultants, with a final report expected in 2027. The draft 2027 to 2036 capital plan, reviewed October 6, 2026, pays for repairs and an electrical upgrade, not an expansion. Any large borrowing for a new building would first need voter approval. [1] [2] [5] [6] [10]

Checked November 9, 2026 against District of Squamish records. Numbers link to their sources.

What was just finished

The first renovation project at Brennan Park cost $21 million and was declared finished in July 2026. More than three quarters of the work was hidden: a central heat pump system, new ammonia and fire alarm systems, a new rooftop unit, and structural, energy and accessibility work. The parts people see are a renovated lobby, an elevator to a newly accessible second floor with a viewing area over the ice, new change rooms and lockers, universal washrooms, two new program rooms and a covered walkway to the pool entrance. [5]

It was paid for mostly by more than $11.7 million from the federal Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program and $1.2 million from the Build Communities Strong Fund. The District has also secured $10.4 million for a second project on the outside of the building (insulation, windows, doors, earthquake safety and electrical), but no date is set. Officials said that timing waits for the task force findings. [5]

The plan to expand or replace it

In December 2025, the old council put $125,000 for 2026 into the 10 year financial plan to study a Brennan Park upgrade. Councillor Hamilton opposed. A separate motion to spend $200,000 on a feasibility study for a second pool and rink by July 2026 failed, with Mayor Hurford and Councillors French, Andersen and Stoner opposed. [8]

The study is run by the Recreation Centre Task Force, a team of District staff, with Cornerstone Planning Group as the main consultant. It is Phase 1 of three. Phase 1 checks what the community needs, studies the building's condition, electrical service, archaeology and environment, compares options, and produces rough early cost estimates and ways to pay. Staff say the electrical supply at the site is maxed out after the retrofit, which limits any expansion until it is upgraded. [1] [20]

On September 1, 2026, council endorsed the task force's engagement plan. Staff had advised against a council committee and against broad public consultation this round. The plan instead uses interviews with sports clubs, the school district and Squamish Nation talks, plus an online survey for users. [7] [6]

Step	Planned timing	Status as of November 9, 2026
Interviews with clubs and groups	Finish by October 2026	Not confirmed
Online survey	October to November 2026	No survey found on the District's engagement site
What We Heard summary to council	November 2026	Not yet on a council agenda we could find
Final report and facility options	Around March 2027	Upcoming
Phase 2: secure funding	After council picks an option	No date
Phase 3: design and build	After funding	No date

The timing in this table comes from the July 2026 engagement plan as reported by the Squamish Reporter. The Reporter separately described the task force work as running over about the next year. [6] [5]

What the October 6 capital plan includes

The draft capital plan covers $357 million of projects over 10 years, with $24.6 million in 2027. It has no money to build a Brennan Park expansion. Staff wrote that the District's borrowing capacity is largely committed to major facility and landfill expansion projects. [1]

According to an unofficial summary of the October 6 meeting, council voted 4 to 2 to show possible Brennan Park upgrade funding in the plan documents (Councillors Hamilton, Stoner, Pettingill and Greenlaw for, French and Andersen against). Staff said there is no cost estimate yet, so any number would not be reliable. We could not find the official minutes yet. [2]

Upgrade of the main underground electrical service, so the site can expand later: $1 million ($60,000 in 2027, $940,000 in 2028)
Arena heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrade: $573,000 in 2027 and 2028, after a 2025 arena shutdown when condensation made the ice unsafe
Splash park: $1.7 million in 2027 and 2028
Field house replacement: about $1 million, mostly in 2028
Accessible playground: about $1.1 million, designed in 2030 and built in 2032
A 2027 study on turning the new second floor room into a fitness centre

Most of these keep the old building running. The arena sprinkler piping dates to 1977 and a skylight near the pool entrance to 1992; both are set to be replaced. [1]

The pool

The pool, called the Squamish Aquatic Centre, is owned by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District and run by the District of Squamish. Each year the District sends the regional district a budget request. On September 8, 2026, council approved a 2027 request of $4.777 million: $1.772 million to run the pool and $3.005 million for capital work. Another $1.225 million of capital is planned for 2028. [3]

The 2027 capital money is for replacing the pool's air handling unit (installed in 2013), new plastic lockers, pipes and mechanical equipment, the pool deck, tiles and underground electrical service. Staff wrote that the pool runs at capacity and that staffing has been a challenge since a 2025 health authority pool closure. An unofficial meeting summary says Councillor Pettingill voted against the request over the gas heating, and staff called it the community's only pool. [3] [4]

How a new building could be paid for

No funding plan exists yet. Staff say a project this size would need several sources, such as reserves, grants, partners, developer contributions and borrowing, and that without one main source construction may be phased or scaled back. [1] [20]

In British Columbia, long term municipal borrowing needs approval from voters. Council can use an alternative approval process, where the borrowing goes ahead unless at least 10% of eligible voters sign forms against it within at least 30 days, or it can hold a referendum (called assent voting). If 10% object, council can go to a referendum within 80 days or rethink the plan. [10]

Staff said the borrowing already in the draft plan brings the District's debt servicing (yearly loan payments) to 14%, below its own policy cap of 20% and the provincial cap of 25%. [1]

The new council still has to adopt the 2027 to 2036 financial plan, which an unofficial meeting summary expected in December. The District says a workshop to introduce the plan to the new council and a public information night are coming, with dates to be announced. [2] [9]

What the new mayor and council said

The new council took office on November 3, 2026. At that meeting, Councillor Prosko named Brennan Park as one of the big decisions ahead, and a student guest asked council to make the Brennan Park pool and rink a priority. Here is what each of the seven elected members said during the campaign. [19] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [8]

Mayor Sean Easton: negotiate with Woodfibre LNG (liquefied natural gas) for a new recreation centre with a pool and ice rink. In his answers to Squamish Voters he said Brennan Park should be paid for by a fair deal with industry, not more public debt.
Sarah Ellis: speed up the task force so a replacement is designed and priced.
Eric Andersen: add a full update of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan alongside the Brennan Park work. He is the only returning member, and on the old council he voted against the $200,000 pool and rink study in December 2025.
Laura Prosko: work toward shovels in the ground for a second ice rink in 2027.
Luc Perreault: hold off on major expansions until there is a clear plan to pay for them.
Janice DesJardins: if a big expansion is proposed, send it to a referendum, not an alternative approval process.
Shaun Veltkamp: lists investing in childcare, recreation and community programs, with no specific Brennan Park plan we could find.

The old council turned down the 10 year Woodfibre LNG tax deal 5 to 2 on September 22, 2026, and the company's chief executive later called it a fair and final offer. Whether a new deal could include a recreation centre is not known. [21] [22]

Follow what council does next: Brennan Park Recreation Centre expansion, with every vote by member.

Sources

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