The City of North Vancouver officially opened the new Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre today, July 25, 2026, marking the largest community recreation facility on the North Shore.
Mayor Linda Buchanan and members of council welcomed the public into the 189,000-square-foot building for a celebration that included tours, live performances and recreation demonstrations. The event also featured the unveiling of several public art pieces, including a portrait of the late Harry Jerome by Yared Nigussu and installations by local artists Qʷənat Angela Paul and Jill Anholt.
“I am incredibly proud that after more than 20 years of planning, engagement and determination, the new Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre is finally open to the residents of North Vancouver,” Buchanan said. She added that the facility was designed with people of all ages and abilities in mind and reflects Harry Jerome’s “Never give up” motto.
According to the news release, the centre was designed by Vancouver-based architecture firm HCMA Architecture and Design, with a focus on publicly accessible spaces intended to bring the community together. Project architect and HCMA principal Paul Fast called it a generational project that will set new standards for accessibility and social inclusion.
The aquatics centre, scheduled to open this fall, will be only the second facility in Canada to feature an advanced low-energy, low-chlorine water filtration system. It will include a leisure pool with a lazy river, spray features and a toddler play area, a 25-metre, 10-lane lap pool, diving platforms and springboards, an all-ages hot pool, a 16-plus hot pool with steam room and dry sauna, and universal and gender-inclusive change rooms and washrooms.
The facility also includes an NHL-sized arena that can accommodate hockey, para ice hockey, ringette, public skating, lacrosse, inline hockey and other dry-floor sports, with seating for up to 500 spectators. Additional amenities include eight flexible multi-purpose rooms, indoor and outdoor fitness areas, an Olympic-sized gymnasium, an arts studio, youth and early years spaces, a community kitchen and gathering spaces.
According to the news release, the North Vancouver Recreation and Culture Commission will operate and program the new centre. Some service areas will open for use beginning Monday, July 27, with “try-it” and drop-in activities available before regular programming begins in September. Details on fall programming and registration are available on the NVRC website.
The centre is named in honour of Harry Jerome, a local hero, world record holder, Olympic athlete, teacher and community inspiration. The building represents a 52 per cent increase in space over the previous facility, bringing total program space to 189,822 square feet. It includes advanced heat recovery technology using CO2 refrigeration systems for the arena and has received Canada Green Building Council Zero Carbon Design certification. The new HJCRC precinct also includes the new Silver Harbour Seniors’ Activity Centre.
