Coquitlam council complimentary on Burke Mountain rec centre design; costs to be determined

It’s arriving a bit later than anticipated, but the new Burke Mountain Community Centre is once again on its way.

Initially pegged to cost $152-million and to open in 2027, the recently unveiled rec centre design is now slated to open in late 2029. The budget has yet to be released.

At 80,000 square feet, the community hub is set to feature a library, side-by-side gyms, a community kitchen, studio and fitness space, as well as an aquatic centre consisting of a six-lane 25-metre lap pool, a leisure pool with two leisure lanes and lazy river, as well as a sauna.

“I’m disappointed it’s been delayed a bit but I think now we can look forward to seeing this project move forward,” Coun. Craig Hodge said Monday, thanking Burke Mountain residents for their patience.

While acknowledging his wish the centre had opened yesterday, Coun. Robert Mazzarolo noted the logistical challenges.

“The fact that it’s being quite literally built on the side of a mountain, it takes time to get to this point,” Mazzarolo said.

Development money is set to pay most of the cost of the centre, with the city leveraging debt financing as needed.

As the project aims to use low-carbon building materials, water conservation strategies, and garner a zero-carbon design certification, city staff have applied for a federal building grant that would “relieve pressure on the city’s other funding sources,” according to a staff report.

Given recent tariffs and counter-tariffs, “the scale, duration, and specific goods affected continue to shift significantly,” the staff report noted.

To guard against “what would otherwise be a sharp tax increase,” the city is set to draw from a reserve fund.

While not yet confirmed, the city is also expecting a $10-million contribution from the provincial government, according to city staff.

“And then we get to talk about the exciting stuff: the financial implications,” Coun. Dennis Marsden said. The sooner those numbers come in, the better, Marsden added.

There are no plans to include a food vendor inside the centre, the city’s capital projects director Tobi May told council, explaining the community hub is meant to be a catalyst for nearby cafes and grocery stores.

A more detailed design is expected later this year with site clearing beginning early in 2026.