It appears the South side of the Sports Palace in Kapuskasing could be getting a sheet of ice. Town Council has recommended that they open up the south rink as long as all of the public health guidelines are met with the COVID-19 pandemic. Councillors and town staff had a frank discussion weighing the options including traffic flow inside the arena and to allow the use of the change rooms. The south rink is currently being used as a changing area and users are being asked to have most of their equipment on when they arrive except for their skates. One of the suggestions is that part of the curling club be used as an additional changing area to go along with the other rooms. Mayor Dave Plourde says he appreciates everyone taking the time to have their input.
“I mean everyone needs their recreation activities and I think we operate a swimming pool and we opened that, we also operate the arena and we opened the one side,” he said. “I think If we can give as many users the opportunities in a safe manner and make sure we do that than I think it can be a benefit to the community.”
The ice time on the north rink is booked most nights and on weekends, and the extra ice would allow for more youth hockey and figure skating opportunities.
Plourde says it’s been a long pandemic and people are tired of being cooped up.
“We are looking at a winter and that we’ll be doing it again. And so if we can get our kids active and making sure they get their play time all the while being safe and making sure we are doing it as safely as we can,” he said. “I think that’s all we want to do.”
