Improvements are coming to the local arena to ensure that the heart of the building is more energy efficient and code compliant while serving the community.
At the June 18 regular meeting of council, the Town of Princeton awarded Norlock Refrigeration with the $111,970 contract to replace the Princeton and District Arena compressor. Council also approved the total project budget of $128,667 which includes electrical work and contingencies.
The arena was opened in 1974, and one of the two 6A compressors is still the original from 51 years ago. The other has been rebuilt many times, but like the first, is considered to be at the end of its useful life. During 2025 budget deliberations, council discussed that the older compressor should be replaced with a 4WBHE high efficiency compressor, which has a greater capacity and is considerably more energy efficient.
The 2025 Financial Plan set aside a total of $165,000 for the compressor and condenser replacement project, based on verbal estimates and discussions from last year. However, due to higher costs, it is no longer possible to replace both items and stay within the current budget.
"Staff are recommending that we replace the original compressor this year and differ the condenser project," Princeton CAO Lyle Thomas said. "New estimates for the condenser will be sought and brought into the 2026 budget deliberations this fall."
Norlock Refrigeration has been the arena's contracted mechanic for more than 30 years and has existing knowledge of the building's altered plant room.
"Our 1974 refrigeration plant has undergone many changes over the years and has been substantially altered making it difficult and time consuming for new contractors to learn and understand the system," Thomas said.
Thomas added that Norlock Refrigeration has historically been the lowest bidder when it comes to refrigeration work. He also said that "time is of the essence," as the window to do the work during the off-season is short, especially for a larger project, and there is limited supply with only three 4WBHE high efficiency compressors in all of Canada.
Funds for the project will be taken from the arena capital section of the 2025 financial plan.
