Editor:
After two weeks of digesting the recent decision made by SCRD directors at the July 30 special board meeting in regards to recreation facilities on the Sunshine Coast, I am finally able to put words to paper.
The decision came as a devastating blow to our youth ice organizations. It meant hundreds of hours invested in August development programming for our youth washed away; cancellations of camps and training with guest coaches confirmed; and the implications of taking our youth off coast, yet again, to train in other communities – at the expense of hardworking young families, with the current disaster that is BC Ferries, and risking further contact with COVID-19.
It also meant pickleball taking over the Sechelt ice arena, once again taking from our youth.
On June 25, 2005, a referendum was held, the third since 1998, and the Sunshine Coast voted for an additional sheet of ice to be constructed. The referendum did not include turning the Sechelt ice arena into a full-time dry floor.
Keeping Sechelt dry will result in adult hockey leagues being pushed into the wee hours of the night, which will inevitably result in the demise of adult hockey leagues. Youth will lose, families will lose, the entire Sunshine Coast will lose. Pickleball can be played in school gymnasiums, tennis courts, senior centres and dedicated facilities. Hockey and figure skating can only take place in an ice arena.
In February 2019 and February 2020, youth ice representatives stood as delegates in front of the SCRD board and presented on this. The SCRD board voted in favour of April, May and August ice being added to the current allocation schedule. Now here we are again begging for the opening of both the Gibsons and Sechelt ice arenas to facilitate ice programming just a few months later.
When will the SCRD start to see the value of recreation for youth? I would fully support the construction of a dry-floor facility resulting in increased taxes because it’s good for our community. The same can be said for keeping ice in both of our ice arenas. Let’s give our youth the chance to thrive, here at home, in our community.
Kate Turner, West Sechelt
