Vick444~No Spam~@aei.ca
06-23-2008, 10:55 PM
Friday June 20, 2008
The troubled MacIsland redevelopment project took another
turn this week with a proposed closure of all of the
facility’s ice surfaces this coming winter.
A coalition calling itself the Fort McMurray Ice Users
Group is trying to overturn the closure threat.
The group consists of Minor Hockey, Ringette, Old Timers’
Hockey, the Gentleman’s Hockey League, Noralta Figure
Skating Club and Oilsands Curling Club.
Suzanne Pinkoski, vice-president of the Fort McMurray
Ringette Association, said the closure of MacIsland’s ice
surfaces will be "absolutely crippling" to the group’s
programs.
"We have five arenas: the one in Thickwood, Frank Lacroix
(in Beacon Hill) and three at MacIsland, but if you take
three of those away, with this large ... population,
you’re in big trouble," said Pinkoski. She added the
current ice surfaces in town cannot serve a population of
35,000, let alone Fort McMurray’s current total of more
than double that.
The six ice programs in the coalition shouldered the
effects of closed ice surfaces last winter.
Pinkoski said the MacIsland ice rinks were closed from
Oct. 31 to Dec. 8 because the facility did not meet
building code requirements, after construction delayed
the new ice rink from opening until Oct. 15 and the mini
ice until Oct. 26. Most ice programs, Pinkoski said,
normally begin in the first and second weeks in
September.
Many locals were infuriated by the action. It was
reversed.
"When it did close, for ringette, we were lucky if we got
one practice every two weeks, and it was a shared
practice," said Pinkoski, adding the gentlemen’s league
and ladies ringette gave up all of their ice time so the
children could have more time to practice.
Pinkoski said the Ice Users Group has contacted safety
code specialists who will bring forward alternative
solutions to regional council this Tuesday that will
allow the facility to remain open during the expansion
without compromising the safety of the youth.
"We’re not looking to risk our children in an unsafe
environment, but if there is a plan that can be
implemented, then do it," said Marc Lozynski, a spokesman
for the Ice Users Group.
Lozynski said thousands of people will be affected by the
MacIsland ice closure.
"You’ve got about 5,000 kids and actual skating members,
then you add their parents and families associated with
that," he said. "This closure is likely to kill the
Noralta Skating Club because it’s a business. They have
to hire their coaches and if they’re not able to run,
they’re done and they won’t be able to recover from that
for three to five years."
Lozynski said the proposed closure is especially
disappointing as Noralta runs the Can-Skate program,
where new skaters are trained and placed into various ice
programs.
"For more competitive programs, like hockey and ringette,
it becomes an attraction of people issue," said Lozynski
who has seen a drop in program registration. "If I’ve got
a job offer in the upgrader alley down in Edmonton and a
job offer up here, well my kid can’t play hockey here
because the facility’s closed."
Jeff Reich, president of the Oilsands Curling Club,
already knows what the closure has done to his sport. The
only curling rink in the community, at MacIsland, was
closed for the entire season last year.
"I would love (council) to stop thinking about what it’s
going to take to get the facility up and running by
closing it and start looking at opportunities to keep it
open to users but still keep it safe," said Reich. The
curling club has more than 200 members consisting of both
junior and adult leagues, he added.
The Ice Users Group will present its case to council
Tuesday, the last meeting before council recesses.
"Because it’s summer now, it doesn’t seem like that big a
concern, "said Pinkoski.
"But come September, everybody’s not going to be very
happy. We want the city to work with us in order to keep
the place open."
Wood Buffalo spokesman Philip Cooper issued a statement
this morning, saying "We will evaluate options and
discuss these with the MacDonald Island Board, the
facility operators and user groups. All parties need to
work together towards a safe, yet operational solution."
The Fort McMurray Ice Users Group is encouraging
supporters to attend the regional council meeting at city
hall Tuesday at 6 p.m. and if possible, to wear a hockey
jersey.
http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/Local%20News/407735.html
The troubled MacIsland redevelopment project took another
turn this week with a proposed closure of all of the
facility’s ice surfaces this coming winter.
A coalition calling itself the Fort McMurray Ice Users
Group is trying to overturn the closure threat.
The group consists of Minor Hockey, Ringette, Old Timers’
Hockey, the Gentleman’s Hockey League, Noralta Figure
Skating Club and Oilsands Curling Club.
Suzanne Pinkoski, vice-president of the Fort McMurray
Ringette Association, said the closure of MacIsland’s ice
surfaces will be "absolutely crippling" to the group’s
programs.
"We have five arenas: the one in Thickwood, Frank Lacroix
(in Beacon Hill) and three at MacIsland, but if you take
three of those away, with this large ... population,
you’re in big trouble," said Pinkoski. She added the
current ice surfaces in town cannot serve a population of
35,000, let alone Fort McMurray’s current total of more
than double that.
The six ice programs in the coalition shouldered the
effects of closed ice surfaces last winter.
Pinkoski said the MacIsland ice rinks were closed from
Oct. 31 to Dec. 8 because the facility did not meet
building code requirements, after construction delayed
the new ice rink from opening until Oct. 15 and the mini
ice until Oct. 26. Most ice programs, Pinkoski said,
normally begin in the first and second weeks in
September.
Many locals were infuriated by the action. It was
reversed.
"When it did close, for ringette, we were lucky if we got
one practice every two weeks, and it was a shared
practice," said Pinkoski, adding the gentlemen’s league
and ladies ringette gave up all of their ice time so the
children could have more time to practice.
Pinkoski said the Ice Users Group has contacted safety
code specialists who will bring forward alternative
solutions to regional council this Tuesday that will
allow the facility to remain open during the expansion
without compromising the safety of the youth.
"We’re not looking to risk our children in an unsafe
environment, but if there is a plan that can be
implemented, then do it," said Marc Lozynski, a spokesman
for the Ice Users Group.
Lozynski said thousands of people will be affected by the
MacIsland ice closure.
"You’ve got about 5,000 kids and actual skating members,
then you add their parents and families associated with
that," he said. "This closure is likely to kill the
Noralta Skating Club because it’s a business. They have
to hire their coaches and if they’re not able to run,
they’re done and they won’t be able to recover from that
for three to five years."
Lozynski said the proposed closure is especially
disappointing as Noralta runs the Can-Skate program,
where new skaters are trained and placed into various ice
programs.
"For more competitive programs, like hockey and ringette,
it becomes an attraction of people issue," said Lozynski
who has seen a drop in program registration. "If I’ve got
a job offer in the upgrader alley down in Edmonton and a
job offer up here, well my kid can’t play hockey here
because the facility’s closed."
Jeff Reich, president of the Oilsands Curling Club,
already knows what the closure has done to his sport. The
only curling rink in the community, at MacIsland, was
closed for the entire season last year.
"I would love (council) to stop thinking about what it’s
going to take to get the facility up and running by
closing it and start looking at opportunities to keep it
open to users but still keep it safe," said Reich. The
curling club has more than 200 members consisting of both
junior and adult leagues, he added.
The Ice Users Group will present its case to council
Tuesday, the last meeting before council recesses.
"Because it’s summer now, it doesn’t seem like that big a
concern, "said Pinkoski.
"But come September, everybody’s not going to be very
happy. We want the city to work with us in order to keep
the place open."
Wood Buffalo spokesman Philip Cooper issued a statement
this morning, saying "We will evaluate options and
discuss these with the MacDonald Island Board, the
facility operators and user groups. All parties need to
work together towards a safe, yet operational solution."
The Fort McMurray Ice Users Group is encouraging
supporters to attend the regional council meeting at city
hall Tuesday at 6 p.m. and if possible, to wear a hockey
jersey.
http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/Local%20News/407735.html