File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Rec Facilities Reopening

City of Kamloops to reopen Brocklehurst Arena, community centres after months of COVID-19 closures

Sep 15, 2020 | 4:29 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops council will move ahead with reopening more recreational facilities in an effort to give local residents some options heading into winter.

Rec facilities have slowly opened back up after the COVID-19 pandemic forced mass closures last March.

The facilities set to reopen include Brocklehurst Arena, the curling sheets at McArthur Island and several community centres.

At Tuesday’s (Sept. 15) regular meeting, Recreation, Health and Wellness Supervisor Linda Stride told council budgetary constraints will limit arena operating time to 13 hours per day, though there are still dozens of community groups looking for ice time similar to what they had before the pandemic.

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“We have 30 adult user groups who have confirmed that they would like ice for the fall of 2020 and into 2021. Ten have said, ‘No, thanks’ to the fall but remain on the bubble for 2021,” Stride said.

While some councillors expressed concern about the cost of subsidizing staff and arena operations, others touted the fact that open arenas return the community to some sense of normalcy.

“We’ve been short sheets of ice for almost five, six years now,” said Councillor Bill Sarai. “Now with this COVID virus impeding us even more, we’re shutting down more, we’re putting more strain on people who need to get out and get their children out and get some normalcy in their lives.”

Council also authorized the reopening of Sandman Centre for the needs of the Kamloops Blazers – though the Western Hockey League has yet to announce any plans for a 2020-21 season.

If the Western Hockey League comes back in any capacity, council wants the city’s keystone arena to be ready.

“If they come back, we’re going to feel a little bit more normal — we’re going to feel a little bit more like life is coming back,” noted Councillor Dale Bass. “So I see that as having a value to the community that maybe isn’t quite as much as what we’re going to lose, but I just see something good to the community if they’re able to come back and we’re able to put them in there.”

A move to delay the decision around Sandman Centre was ultimately squelched in a vote.

“Casting some uncertainty around the Blazers operation really does nobody any good,” argued Mayor Ken Christian. “As they’re out there trying to solicit advertising and as they are out trying to make their franchise successful, I think we, as a partner, need to be behind that.”

The community centres that will have availability are Heritage House, the Kamloops Yacht Club, Valleyview Hall and the Hal Rogers Centre in Upper Sahali.