Calgary company chosen to replace refrigeration plant at Fernie arena

The investigation into the 2017 ammonia leak at Fernie Memorial Arena is ongoing.

Officials in Fernie are hoping to reopen the local arena for the 2018/19 winter season and have hired a Calgary company to put in a new refrigeration plant.

Fernie Memorial Arena was shut down last October after three people died following an ammonia leak at the facility.

The community came together and, with help from the Calgary Flames Foundation and NHL, constructed an outdoor rink to get local teams through the winter.

On Thursday, officials in Fernie announced that Calgary’s Startec Refrigeration Services Ltd. has been selected to construct the ice plant.

One of the reasons the company was chosen is because it uses synthetic refrigerant instead of ammonia.

“We’re pleased that our design approach will meet the needs of the City and we are looking forward to getting to work. We are very proud to be able to provide assistance knowing that we will play a role in getting the user groups and the community back into their facility,” said Mike Kelly, Technical Sales for Startec Refrigeration Services in a statement.

The contract is worth about $800,000 and officials say the technology is being used at other rinks in North America and Europe.

Crews are expected to complete the project by August 1st and the hope is that staff will be trained to use the new equipment in time for the start of the 2018/19 season.