Opening in 2026, North Bay’s new Community & Recreation Centre represents a $63 million investment in sports tourism infrastructure at the Steve Omischl Sports Field Complex on Lakeshore Drive. This state-of-the-art facility will be one of Canada’s first net-zero carbon recreational venues, meeting Version 3 of the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Design Standard, demonstrating that environmental leadership and world-class sport can thrive together.
The centre features twin ice surfaces built to NHL regulation standards, perfect for seamless tournament scheduling with minimal downtime and ideal for hockey, ringette, figure skating, and tradeshows. Fourteen flexible change rooms, all barrier-free, include eight convertible rooms that transform into four enlarged spaces to accommodate teams of varying sizes or special accessibility needs. Climate-controlled viewing areas provide warm, comfortable spectator spaces with excellent sightlines ensuring an enjoyable experience even during the coldest Ontario winters. An upper-level walking/running track offers multi-use space for warm-ups, cool-downs during events along with overall health and wellness while a large community room provides versatile space for coaches’ meetings, tournament briefings, team meals, registration, and awards ceremonies. Over 400 parking spaces, including dedicated bus spaces for traveling teams, plus transit pick-up and drop-off at the main entrance, ensure convenient access for all visitors.
Situated in Northern Ontario with easy highway access, the facility is part of the premier Steve Omischl Sports Field Complex, creating unique opportunities for multi-sport events that combine ice sports with outdoor field activities. The fully accessible, barrier-free design throughout ensures inclusivity for all participants and spectators. Tourism North Bay provides comprehensive event planning assistance, from accommodations and dining to entertainment options for teams and families, delivering our proud hosting legacy and genuine Northern Ontario hospitality.
Contact Tourism North Bay to discuss your tournament or event needs.