THUNDER BAY – City council will consider an updated proposal for changes to how it allocates ice at city arenas on Monday.
Council referred proposed changes back to staff for further consultation on Aug. 8 after hearing concerns from user groups, notably the Thunder Bay Minor Hockey Association.
Since that time, staff held two meetings with minor hockey representatives, and one with a variety of user groups including skating clubs, the Thunder Bay Women’s Hockey Association, new Junior B team the Current River Storm, and other recreational hockey groups.
That followed earlier consultation in 2021 over changes to how the city prioritizes ice users at both the Fort William Gardens and its five satellite arenas.
In a follow-up report to council, staff recommend tweaks to the policy proposed on Aug. 8, including allowing just one Junior B team across its satellite arenas, instead of two; moving minor hockey up slightly in the priority lists for both the Fort William Gardens and satellite arenas, though still lower than the current policy; and opening up Sunday morning ice time for adult groups, to compensate for other prime time evening hours that will be given to minor hockey groups.
Other proposed changes are still recommended, like starting adult use time an hour earlier at 9:30 p.m. at four arenas, and setting “prime time” weekday ice from 4:30 p.m. to close.
The city has emphasized the formula that determines how many prime time ice hours each user group receives – based on the previous year’s registration numbers – is not changing.
Wayne Fortes, president of the Thunder Bay Minor Hockey Association, said it’s where exactly those hours fall in the schedule that concerns his group.
“At the satellite arenas, we still have a difference of opinion on the priority list. We feel we should be at number two. Hopefully we’ll be able to continue discussing this with city administration.”
He called the one-Junior B team limit and moving up of minor hockey in the priority lists positive changes.
While he identified some remaining concerns, he described the city’s further consultations as open and productive.
“We were very happy with the response they were giving us at that point, that they were hearing us,” he said.
Paul Burke, sport and community development supervisor with the city, said he believes the new policy brings some improvements to what is a difficult compromise between a large number of users.
“Thunder Bay is passionate about hockey and their winter ice sports,” he said. “We have a limited supply as far as the number of rinks and the ice time we provide. In an ideal world, we’d be able to give everyone the best time between 5 and 8 p.m. on a weekday. That’s not something we’re able to do, obviously.”
Once the city ends allowances for adult hockey groups grandfathered in to use prime time evening weekday hours after this year, Burke believes minor hockey will see an improvement.
“This policy should not result in minor groups receiving less ice – in the long term we believe they may get a bit more ice, and at better times,” he said.
