The City of Thunder Bay is launching an Arena Facility Renewal Strategy to guide the future of the community’s arena network. This work will ensure Thunder Bay’s arenas continue to meet the needs of residents, user groups, and the broader region.

As part of this work, the City is undertaking a comprehensive community and stakeholder engagement process to gather input on how arenas are currently used, what is working well, and where improvements or changes may be needed. This feedback will play a key role in shaping the long-term direction of the arena system.

Thunder Bay’s arenas are an important part of the community, supporting recreational use, minor and competitive sport, and a variety of events. At the same time, many facilities are aging and require significant investment over the coming years. The strategy will help the City plan for the future by aligning facility needs with community priorities, usage patterns, and available resources.

Residents, user groups, and stakeholders are invited to participate in the engagement process through:

  • A public survey
  • Stakeholder and user group interviews
  • Direct outreach to arena users and partners

Residents can learn more about this process and fill out the public survey online at thunderbay.ca/getinvolved. The survey closes on June 30. Paper copies will be available at City Hall and branches of the Thunder Bay Public Library.

Community feedback will help the City:

  • Understand current and future demand for arena services
  • Identify priorities for investment and improvement
  • Explore opportunities to enhance efficiency, access, and user experience
  • Inform decisions about the long-term structure of the arena network

Input gathered through this process will be combined with technical analysis to develop options for the future of Thunder Bay’s arena system. These options will be reviewed and refined before an Arena Facility Renewal Strategy is presented to City Council.

The City encourages all residents and arena users to participate and help shape the future of recreation in Thunder Bay.

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Contact:      Kelvin Jankowski, Manager – Capital Facilities Construction, 807-633-6631