Editor:
Re: “Big setback for ice groups,” Letters, Aug. 21.
This year has been like no other for our recreation programs. Indoor lacrosse, roller derby and pickleball all lost their entire summer season in the arenas. The Home and Garden Show and Quilt Show lost their venues. The pools remain closed. There were no other special events or facility rentals. The income from all of these activities was lost and a deficit is inevitable.
The SCRD corporate and administrative services committee meeting on July 23 dealt with an agenda item titled “Community Recreation Facilities COVID-19 Budget Implications.” The discussion and subsequent decision were entirely based on budgetary considerations. At no time were the relative merits or entitlements of the various user groups discussed. The committee decided that ice will be installed in the Gibsons arena in early September but the Sechelt arena will remain “dry floor” until the end of the year. Our elected representatives deserve our thanks and respect for making such a difficult decision on our behalf.
All recreation facility users have lost something important to them due to the pandemic. There are no victims or villains here. No one group is the target of bias or unfairness. We have all made sacrifices.
Ian Overend, Sechelt
