Editor:
Following the recent minor hockey wrap-up, I reflected on the triumphs and challenges of the season passed. As in previous years, I was fortunate to work beside other parents, overcoming obstacles to provide recreational sporting experiences for the children of the Sunshine Coast.
As they have before, the volunteers rose to meet the needs of the community. Once again, I feel proud to work alongside these leaders, knowing that without the contribution of their time and energy, our kids would not get to participate as they do.
Again this season, we faced numerous challenges. Thankfully, there are very skilled and dedicated organizations, devoted to delivering ice-based programming on the Coast. Local minor hockey and skate club organizers committed to and successfully ran extended programs, utilizing our ice facilities for an additional six weeks in August and April.
Although ice access for local kids still lags behind other communities, the SCRD permitting volunteer groups to deliver enhanced programming certainly helps. Collaboration between volunteer groups and local government resulted in public-owned facilities effectively used to meet the needs of the community.
Society choosing user-pay over regional recreation funding will decrease the public’s capacity to provide recreation and increase pressure on volunteer groups working to maintain affordable programming. Continued municipal support of these groups is fundamental to continuing to provide our community’s kids the development opportunities they deserve.
It is encouraging to see the public at work with municipal staff ensuring that our assets get utilized as they were intended to be, especially in the face of continued local challenges including inadequate water supply, increased cost of living and transportation. We will need to move forward as a team to continue achieving success.
Stuart Frizzell, Gibsons
