Saugeen Shores Council on Monday (Jan. 8/24) heard from a delegation of sports leaders in the community, Janet Dawson, Steve Currie, Gord Lamont, Ryan Brown, and Mike McNabb, who were there to recommend a year-round ice time in local arenas.
In 2020, then-Director of Community Services recommended that Council approve moving to a 12-month ice expansion time to begin January 1, 2021 on a three-year trail basis which, unfortunately, was side-lined by Covid.
At the Monday meeting, Janet Dawson, an official and instructor with Skate Canada and coach with the Saugeen Shores Skating Club for 36 years, said that the group was looking for a renewal of the three-year pilot project that would have started in 2021 and to re-start in 2025. They are also requesting in ice-extension in 2024 that leaves the ice in for the month of May and beginning again August 1st.
“The request is to meet the exponential growth that is happening for skating programs throughout the year and to meet extended programs throughout the year. Our programs are at capacity with wait lists and that there is a clear demand for ice although none is available in Saugeen Shores from the beginning of May until the second week of August. Therefore, our athletes have to outside of our community to available ice such as Barrie, Owen Sound and Collingwood to continue training, finish competitive season, finish testing or just to keep up with their conditioning,” said Dawson.
“We have a robust list of organizations that are interested,” she pointed out. “Our representatives have some 70 years of experience in coordinating scheduling, registrations and collections of fees that are turned over to the town for the use of the facility (Plex). We generate revenue and help with maintenance costs. The Skating Club also hosts fundraising events that have contributed to the medical centre and non-profit groups. We are committed and dedicated to the community.”
“We hope that the ice is extended in 2024 and, if not for the pandemic, we would have year-round ice with the pilot project,” said Dawson.
Following Dawson’s presentation, Steve Currie, a Director representing minor hockey took to the podium. “In our U9 minor hockey alone, we have 250 registered. There are other municipalities who do not have the number across their entire minor hockey registration. We are the largest in the WOAA with a total of 489 boys registered and that has grown by some 60 to 70 each year in the past three seasons and there are also 180 girls registered in the OWHA.”
According to Currie, in 2023 ice time began on August 1st which was a tight timeline for 500 to pre-time and try-outs. He also pointed out that ice in Southampton arena does not go in until October 1st so that the season started using only the Plex.
The Ontario Minoro Hockey Association (OMHA) has also announced that the new season 2024-25 will begin two weeks earlier on September 30th. Therefore, each of the 750 boys and girls will only have approximately three try-outs. OMHA has also implemented April 20th as Spring try-outs which, said Currie, is not possible in Saugeen Shores as the ice is removed April 30th.
“Twelve-month ice will helps us given the new regulations set out by the OMHA,” said Currie.
During the past summer, Currie personally rented ice in the community of Owen Sound for one hour per week for 25 young hockey players, ages seven to nine, to work on development. At the start of June, he had a waiting list from Saugeen Shores and surrounding communities.
Currie also said that there are numerous ‘hockey camps’ that would take advantage of summer ice and that he had commitments from four ex-pro hockey players “… eager to bring their pro-developments programs to Saugeen Shores during the summer months, including Theo Peckam (previously Edmonton Oilers) and Chris Menard (Pittsburgh Penguins).
“Our proposal is not a ‘nice have’ it is a ‘must have’,” said Currie. “We have become a hockey hub that everyone is talking about.”
Gord Lamont, President of the Winterhawks, pointed out that in the 1990s there was a committee of residents who were instrumental in designing and fundraising for the Plex known today. “They spent a lot of time in discussion with Allen Hastings (builder of the arena) and decided to install a new ice-making system that was very cutting-edge and new at the time and that was first in Ontario and second in Canada. The main benefits of the new system were -it was environmentally safer, produced excessed heat that is used to heat the building and was cheaper to run.”
Lamont encouraged Council to research the system. “We can keep ice in the facility at less cost than other municipalities other than Goderich that has the same system.”
Mike McNabb spoke on behalf of girls’ hockey and the growth being experienced in minor hockey and “… the ice is critical of that.” He pointed out that athletes are travelling to other centres to attend hockey camps and do conditioning and training in figure skating and is impacting out try-outs.
“In the Spring,” said McNabb, “the girls will by trying out for rep teams because there is a bottleneck that happens in September. We have to get a lot of kids through and many, who are selected in April, cannot get on the ice until October which potentially puts our athletes behind and results in their leaving for other areas. In the shoulder seasons, is where training has to happen.”
Mayor Luke Charbonneau said that a staff report would be brought back to Council based on the delegation’s submission.
Deputy Mayor Diane Huber said the delegation had, in fact, two elements – one being the extension of ice time for 2024 and the possibility of events taking place in summer months.
Councillor John Divinski agreed that a mini-extension for 2024 through May would be preferable. “I am in full support of year-round ice. Many summer ice activities that have gone to other communities will return if the ice is there. I believe this can be either revenue neutral or we might even make a few bucks. According to the people I’ve talked to and surveyed, they are in favour of all-year ice somewhere, either the Plex or Southampton Coliseum. This should be in place in 2025 rather than the suggested 2027. Let’s not drag this out … let’s move ahead with this.”
Vice-deputy Mayor Mike Myatt alluded to his skepticism when the plan first came to Council in 2020 and the proposal was not well documented. “Today, i am in full support and impressed with the 40 groups listed but questioned how many had been contacted.”
Dawson pointed out that, in the past, there had been summer ice particularly in the Southampton Coliseum. “Our group has reached out to the majority of those on the list, such as the professional hockey players and past power-skating camps … the short answer is, if the ice is there they will come.”
Myatt went on to say that there should be a sign … “We are open for business and pack the ice full of bookings 12 months of the year. i have absolute confidence you will fill the slots.”
Dawson pointed out that in the summer months when children are not in school and there are visitors to the community, the ice will be used “even more”. She also said that evening hours will be be filled with adult hockey where teams are now going to other communities such as Paisley.
“If we could get the approval now, we could fill the ice in 2025,” said Dawson.
Myatt also said that with the OMHA earlier timelines that ice has to be installed that much sooner. “I am in support of bringing ice in for May. I hope that staff report comes back with the recommendation for ice in May and earlier for September in 2024 and to go ahead with summer ice in 2025.”
Councillor Bud Halpin however raised that point that there is a projected deficit for 2024 of $314,000 for the Plex which results in $40,000 month for eight months when used. “Therefore, if the ice is in for 12 months, will that result in a deficit of some $480,000? I would like to see more ice, but I am also concerned about the deficits. We are expanding like crazy with ball diamonds, a new pool, extended ice – so there is a consequence when we say the Plex will make more money with summer ice but, will it or will the deficit just be higher? I will support a more positive business plan.”
Councillor Rachel Stack said that upon moving to Saugeen Shores from a smaller less wealthy rural community, she was surprised, that given the hockey community, there was no year-round ice and that it was “…shocking”.
“It would be great to generate positive revenue, but as a community we are supposed to be providing what the community needs,” added Stack. “If there is a demand for ice, that’s something we have to consider, particularly where we are and the activities that kids can do. Even for kids who don’t play hockey or figure skate to be able to use ice in the summer, that’s important. I think of all the deficits we incur related to community recreation for kids, where this is not a screen or tv, it’s positive.”
Mayor Luke Charbonneau said there are many things to consider and a staff report along with things that go into the operation of the Plex such as staffing levels and other considerations including the ongoing construction that will be taking place with logistical and practical implications, will limit what can and cannot be done.
“There is a great deal of interest around the table what can be done to expand this level of service,” said the Mayor. “Council will receive the staff report and we’ll discuss it and let you know how to be involved in those discussions.”
