Douro-Dummer, ON – July 25, 2025 – Peterborough-Kawartha MPP, Dave Smith, was joined by Township of Douro-Dummer Officials to announce a provincial investment of one million dollars to replace the arena floor at the Douro Community Centre.

This investment is part of the Ontario Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF), an initiative that supports Municipalities and other community organizations through funding towards the repair, upgrading and building of new sports and recreation facilities. This initiative was first announced as part of the 2024 provincial budget and will invest 200 million dollars over three years.

The Township of Douro-Dummer will be using the million-dollar investment to replace the arena floor with one that is more energy efficient and heated, allowing for lower operational costs, and increased year-round use of the Douro Community Center.

In the correspondence released by his office, MPP Dave Smith was quoted as saying: “It's not just about replacing an old floor; it's about transforming this facility into a modern, energy-efficient hub that our community can enjoy year-round. This critical upgrade will significantly reduce operational costs and create a vibrant, accessible space that will serve as the heart of our community for generations to come." 

To minimize impact on arena users, the project will tentatively begin in spring 2026 and be completed before the start of the 2026/2027 ice season in September. The compressed timeline for the project led to Township Council received quotes from three qualified design and engineering firms. The firms were scored based on price, experience and references and understanding of project requirements, with Barry Brian Associated being selected for design, engineering and construction management portion of the project. 

For more information on the project timeline and the procurement process please read the staff report presented to Council on August 5, 2025.