Editor:
Re: “Ice demand is there” by Kate Turner, Letters, April 16.
It was unfortunate to see a high-ranking official from local hockey and skate organizations refer to a recent decision made by the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) board as a “battle over ice.” On behalf of our board I would like to address some of what this individual said last week in her letter to the editor.
First and foremost, our staff have done an incredible job of engaging with the local hockey community. SCRD staff have surveyed and given extra time due to COVID to groups to see what their need for ice may be. In spring 2021, the demand is simply not there to be able to pay to keep the facility open with ice.
Our recreation staff have gone above and beyond to ensure that our recreation facilities have remained open in the midst of a global pandemic and for that, I think we should all be grateful. Our ice user groups were a key partner in making this happen, and demonstrated leadership on safe restart sport plans. Together, the Sunshine Coast has been a leader for recreation restart in British Columbia.
On transparency. The question the letter writer has around the breakdown of ice costs can be found in a corporate and administrative services committee report published on Jan. 31, 2019. This report can be accessed by anyone on the SCRD website. The decision not to extend ice at the Sechelt arena is covered in a policy that has existed since 2015 and a broader space allocation policy in place since 2011. It was discussed in depth in 2019.
I want to assure our community that it is not a battle – what the SCRD board is trying to do is strike a balance that takes the needs of the entire community into consideration. If the community feels this policy needs to be revised then let’s talk about it in a respectful way.
Lori Pratt, Director Area B – Halfmoon Bay & Chair, Sunshine Coast Regional District
