New rinks come too late for hockey and ringette leagues
The City of Calgary has committed $301.5 million towards recreation and sports facilities over the next 10 years which includes funding for seven new indoor skating rinks. According to hockey and ringette leagues however that’s a little too late.
“Because of the ice shortage they’ve added more girls to each ringette team and they only get half a sheet of ice to practise on” says Mary-Ann Audet-Dawson who spends up to six hours a week at indoor arenas and 14 hours a week driving her children to and from arenas all over the city.
Calgary has 48 indoor rinks — 19 of them are operated and maintained by the City of Calgary while the remainder are maintained by community associations throughout the city. Due to the city’s growing population however this is no longer enough to meet demand.
Part of the problem comes from a 2000 report that underestimated the need for ice. “In 2000 it was felt that there was enough ice to accommodate the existing need. But our 2006 report showed an increasing demand from key user groups such as ringette and minor hockey leagues” says Shelley Shea manager of arenas athletic parks and sport development for the City of Calgary.
The good news. Ten new ice sheets across the city are in the works one additional arena at Max Bell is expected to open this month and Centennial Arena will tentatively open two new ice sheets by the end of 2008. The City of Calgary recently announced funding for the following recreational centres: $20 million for COP to help finance two of the four rinks it plans to open by 2009; $14 million for the South Fish Creek Recreation Association for two ice sheets; and $9.5 million for one ice surface at the Family Leisure Centre.
The bad news. A good number of existing ice arenas need major repairs and renovations. Following the emergency closure of Bowness and Fairview arenas this year the city commissioned a report to evaluate the state of 17 community-run arenas: 13 were deemed in need of immediate repairs at an estimated cost of $2.6 million. Part the city’s 10-year commitment to recreation and sports facilities includes $40 million in sport facility retrogrades.
It seems that Calgary’s hockey and ringette teams will continue to struggle with the lack of adequate ice time for the next five to 10 years. Although funding has been set to solve ice shortages and ensure arena makeovers Calgary will have a generation of kids who didn’t have the opportunities to fully excel in their chosen sport.
