THUNDER BAY - As more COVID-19 restrictions lift across the province, people in the city of Thunder Bay can soon start to enjoy more recreational activities, with more facilities expected to open in the coming weeks, including one hockey arena.
Thunder Bay city council approved the implementation of plans to reopen summer operations as part of phase three.
Operations that will be reopening include Churchill Pool, which will include restrictions such as no access to high contact surfaces like slides and diving boards, no access to whirlpools or saunas, limited access to change rooms, and pre-booking for aquatic activities.
Several community centres will also be permitted to reopen, including North McIntyre, Oliver Road, Current River, and West Thunder.
The Grace Remus Child Care Centre is permitted to reopen as early as late July, with priority being given to pre-COVID-19 families receiving care, families who qualified for the Emergency Childcare, other municipal childcare clients with centres that may not have reopened yet, municipal childcare staff, and families on waitlists in need of care.
Limited activities in small groups will also be permitted on outdoor sports fields, with larger organized activities required to first seek permission from Parks and Outdoor Spaces.
Restrictions are still in place, including screening before being permitted to enter certain facilities and limits on the size of gatherings.
Reopening services could take between two and six weeks to allow staff to prepare the spaces.
But one recreational activity that was not slated to reopen until later this fall drew the attention of many on city council, who requested ice be made available in the summer.
“Other municipalities are skating, why aren’t we?” asked Coun. Albert Aiello.
Kelly Robertson, general manager of community services with the city of Thunder Bay, said many things could vary in those municipalities, particularly to what extend arena staff were laid-off or redeployed.
“I am not permitted to seek to recall staff until I know the reopening plan has been approved,” she said. “In some cases of where staff have been redeployed, it’s not an easy solution to take them out of where they have been redeployed.”
The reopening plan includes three pillars - safety, value for money, and creating opportunity.
Restrictions on social gatherings of no more than 10 people in stage two of reopening created less demand for summer ice times and according to the plan, it was not recommended to reopen ice until the fall or winter.
“I’ve been engaging with a lot of people over the weekend,” said Neebing Coun. Cody Fraser. “The thing that stuck out to me the most was the lack of demand. If people knew that it was open you would fill it up. I have residents who routinely book ice time.”
“To have the excuse and I call it an excuse, the three pillars are safety, cost benefit, and opportunity. Throwing number two out the window, it will be financially viable.”
Fraser introduced an amendment to the proposed plan to reopen ice as soon as possible.
“I do believe this will generate more revenue than other sports,” said Coun. Peng You. “Open sooner rather than later.”
“To not offer ice at this time of year really puts our athletes at a disadvantage,” Aiello added.
Robertson said she can initiate a request to human resources to recall staff, but there can be consequences.
“We might have to suspend work on other reopening plans that are under development,” she said. “That would be the one suggestion I could offer at this time. I don’t know what the particulars will be on recalling staff. We would need to recall those staff in order to prep that facility.”
The amendment to reopen on ice surface was passed by city council, with only McKellar Coun. Brian Hamilton voting against.
Port Arthur Arena will be permitted to reopen by late August, with the remaining five arenas opening later this year.
