(submitted photo/City of P.A.)

By Alison Sandstrom

Recreation

Council boosts funding to community clubs

Jan 7, 2021 | 2:50 PM

Prince Albert City Council has boosted funding to community clubs in the hope the facilities can open the usual amount of outdoor ice surfaces with normal hours amid a particularly difficult year.

Director of Community Services Jody Boulet, told council the volunteer-run clubs are facing challenges operating because of COVID-19. He explained rinks now require supervision to ensure provincial COVID-19 guidelines are adhered to. There are also additional cleaning costs, at the same time revenue from indoor ice rentals has decreased.

In response, council voted to up the 2021 budget for community clubs by $20,000 to $396,960 during Thursday’s budget deliberations. The extra $20,000 will come from COVID-19 relief money given to the city by the provincial and federal governments.

“To me that’s exactly what the COVID funding is designed for,” Coun. Ted Zurakowski told council.

Three outdoor community club rinks, West Hill, East End and Hazeldell have not opened yet this season, Boulet told paNOW after the meeting.

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“And for those that did start they were really digging in to their community club finances to make it happen,” he said. “This little bit of support from city, I hope, will top up what they need in order to continue operating with some confidence that the financial side can be looked after.”

Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp expressed particular interest in seeing club rinks extend current hours, along with opening secondary smaller ice surfaces.

“Can Skate does not operate for young kids right now,” Lennox-Zepp told the meeting. “So parents like me, we need to be able to go out there, take the kid by the hand and go and teach them. Well I don’t want to interrupt the 12-year-olds playing hockey.”

The budget is not final until it’s passed at a regular city council meeting.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom