Active Living Centre ‘on time, on budget’ in Vernon

Published 3:30 pm Tuesday, February 10, 2026

It’s on time, on budget, will be accessible to all, and will share an Indigenous name.

Vernon council was given back-to-back updates on the progress and accessibility at the Active Living Centre (ALC) on 43rd Avenue – slated to open later this year – by project director Doug Ross at the regular meeting of council Monday, Feb. 9.

“With approximately eight months remaining in the construction phase, the ALC design and construction team are currently on target to deliver the project on time and on budget,” said Ross.

Council was told that the project transitioned in June 2025 from an estimated base target cost of just slightly more than $121 million to a lower final target cost of $119,826,012, a savings of more than $1.2 million.

The savings were shared with the project’s construction and design teams, and the owner retained 75 per cent of the savings, or $903,672.

“In July, the project team utilized some of the savings and approved 15 Added Value Incentive Items totalling $635,974 that will improve safety and security, and/or enhance the user experience in the facility,” said Ross.

To date, continued Ross, the project team has been able to avoid most of the potential tariff risks through the timing of purchases and shipping of equipment from the U.S. and by choosing Canadian-made products and equipment where possible.

Two remaining large-ticket items, he said, are scheduled to cross the border this month with no tariffs in place at this time.

In this first quarter of 2026, Ross said the design team will continue to focus on facilitating construction, responding to requests for information, reviewing submittals and resolving site issues.

The final tender package for building signage will also be reviewed with the city’s recreation and communications departments prior to being issued.

The project team has continued to engage with Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) staff on another of council’s goals, the initiative to incorporate elements into the design that will reflect the syilx culture in the facility. This includes the integration of the nsyilxcen language and educational signage in the facility.

The OKIB Language and Culture staff are working with elders in their community to recommend a nsyilxcen name for the facility.

“Once the elders have put forward a name, it will be brought to the OKIB and Vernon councils for approval,” said Ross.

Another of council’s goals for the new centre is that the building achieves the Rick Hansen Gold Level Certification for accessibility.

The ALC has a design team member from Group2Architecture that is a Rick Hansen Foundation certified RHFAC professional evaluator.

All design decisions are filtered through the criteria established by the Hansen foundation, Canadian Safety Association guidelines, BC Building code, and city bylaws.

“Based on a recent mid-project review, the design team is confident the facility will achieve the Gold Level certification,” said Ross.

Among the highlights for the indoors of the ALC will be automatic doors at all entrances, and at every accessible washroom, multi-purpose room, and entry to the aquatic area and gymnasium.

There will be 12 accessible washrooms, including 10 on Level 1.

Change rooms will include three fully equipped barrier-free washroom, two with powered adult change tables and barrier-free roll-in showers. They will also have wheeled mobility and stroller parking, barrier-free aisles with multiple 2,100 millimetre turning radiuses, and accessible lockers with number pads and audible sounds.

The aquatic area will include a ramp to the 25m pool; zero beach access to the leisure pool and a ramp to the family hot tub; a poolpod lift with Aquatilt universal wheelchair for the 50m pool; transfer entry station and planned portable lift for adult hot tub and cold plunge pool; space in the steam room and sauna to accommodate wheeled mobility devices; and two accessible washrooms off the deck.

Highlights outside the facility include a multi-purpose path along 43rd Avenue with a bus stop in front of Alexis Park School; pedestrian controlled crosswalk on 43rd Avenue near the facility; a dedicated service animal relief area; seven public designated accessible parking stalls, one of which is an EV charging station; 10 limited mobility parking stalls.

Ross’ complete powerpoint presentation on accessbility can be viewed here.

“We are confident that we have succeeded in creating a multi-purpose facility that is accessible, inclusive, family friendly, and will welcome participants of all ages and facilities,” said Ross.

The ALC project team will be hosting a booth at the city’s infrastructure open house at the Vernon Recreation Centre auditorium on Monday, March 2. As well, the team will be the Spring Home Show March 21 and 22, and the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce Expo on Saturday, April 11, both at Kal Tire Place North.

The community can also continue to track progress of the project by clicking on the construction camera located on the project website at vernonalc.ca.