Editor:
Youth ice sports are indeed lobbying for a permanent extended ice season on the Coast. Both minor organizations are seeing rapid growth due to the increase in families moving out of the city. Fortunately for Coasters, we are privy to two ice facilities. These two facilities are home to multi-million-dollar ice-making equipment. Both youth organizations are requesting that ice remains in one of these facilities for 10 months a year, leaving a dry-floor at one ice arena for five to six months.
In error, two letters have recently stated that ice sports cause a deficit. A revenue report for 2017 stated that ice users contributed $960,371.58 towards user time and dry-floor users contributed $44,433.78. I’d like to note that Ian Overend’s variable ice cost per week (“Opposing views on summer ice,” Dec. 14) is also incorrect. In fact the most recent variable cost noted in 2017 was communicated at $5,536 per week (Sunshine Coast Arena). The S.C. Minor Hockey Association and the S.C. Skating Club have been fiscally responsible for any extended ice to date and intend to continue this in the future.
I could go on to explain that by removing ice from both facilities we are forcing youth to miss 100+ hours of school instruction each spring and that families are financially burdened with the cost of travel and time away from their careers, but you’ve heard this all before. The SCRD Ice Allocation states: “During the spring and summer seasons, two dry floor surfaces may be available dependent on the demand set forward by the ice users. The SCRD has the right to restrict dry floor availability to one arena.” The policy also states that youth are prioritized over adults – a policy that you will find nationwide. Youth are our tomorrow. In order to raise valuable members of our future society, we need to create opportunities for them to succeed.
Instead of arguing over who has the right to our recreational facilities, let’s find a solution. Both SCMHA and SCSC have invited dry-floor user groups to discuss the situation, and have offered their volunteer time to help find solutions, all on top of running two major organizations that provide quality programming to the youth in our community. Both youth organizations have been solution-based for years. I could only hope that the large organization of mainly adult and senior members would use their alternative facilities, meanwhile lobbying for a new permanent dry-floor facility. Note that ice sports have no alternative facilities.
Kate Turner, Sechelt
