Kapuskasing Town Council has ended a 10-year agreement with the Flyers U-18 hockey team for free ice time. The Town gave about $24,000 in free ice at the Sports Palace the past year of which $12,500 was directly for the Flyers. The agreement remains in place until the end of the 2022-2023 season, and after that councillors say the Flyers will have to pay for ice-time.
Kapuskasing Figure Skating Club President Lynn Ann Grzela says the agreement basically favoured one organization over another and didn’t put the town in a positive light, especially in today’s world of equity.
Council approved an increase in user fees and a shortened south rink schedule in hopes of improving the financial situation. Mayor Dave Plourde says council must understand first what it’s willing to lose to encourage participation in sports, adding that when registration drops, fees increases may not work.
