Councillor and staff to meet with outdoor rink proponent

By Kirk Winter

Photo: Geoff Coleman.

Before the city makes a final decision about rejecting the idea to construct an outdoor hockey arena in Lindsay, councillor Pat Dunn and possibly director of community services Craig Shanks would like to meet with Allen Irvine, the man who petitioned the city to consider such a project.

Shanks told council that with 19 ice pads in the city there is no need for an additional artificial ice surface, since many of the amenities that Irvine was looking for are now available at the new Logie Street Park and that the city is already committed to a new outdoor ice surface in Norland in 2023.

Councillor Pat Dunn, who encouraged Irvine to create the petition in the first place to gauge community interest, had questions for the director fearing there had been a communication disconnect between the petitioner and the city who costed an artificial ice surface at an excess of $4 million.

“I have no objection to the new facility being built in Norland,” Dunn said. “I read the petition differently from the director. I had a chat with Mr. Irwin and I don’t think he was looking for permanent ice. He wanted to do it as a kind of volunteer effort.”

Dunn made a motion to receive Shanks’ report but asked that council take no further action until he speaks further with Irvine.

“I don’t think this report accurately reflects what Irvine wanted,” Dunn said.

“That could very well be correct,” Shanks said. “We had concerns about a natural ice surface. There could be some issues without refrigeration. You are looking at a season of only 3-6 weeks.”

Shanks told council that he “made the decision” to include refrigeration as part of the costing.

“I support councillor Dunn speaking to Irvine, and I would like to participate,” Shanks said.

“I have some of the same concerns about a natural ice surface as Shanks,” Dunn said. “Maybe we can downscale it a bit. I would like to discuss it with Irvine.”

Mayor Andy Letham had concerns about a natural ice surface in Lindsay.

“We have a different climate now. We live in a different time. You could once go out and create your own fun. This will be a lot of work. Without climate control it will be tough to justify. It makes sense in Norland,” Letham said.

Councillor Ron Ashmore asked about the possibility of an outdoor rink in Omemee. He was told that if the volunteers could be found and access to municipal water was convenient to the location under discussion, community services would be “interested and happy to assist Omemee.”

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