After being shuttered for several months due to Covid-19, multiple civic facilities are on the road to recovery.
The three Kin arenas are back up and running as of August 17, and according to a report to Prince George City Council, the Aquatic Centre will be opening its doors on September 8th.
Along with the arena update, the report includes an updated projection of fall and winter ice usage and arena demand.
Kin Arenas
The Kins have now been open for ten days for summer use, including figure skating and hockey camps.
According to the report, temporarily laid off or reassigned staff have been brought back over the past few weeks, and have been preparing the facilities to operate under COVID-19 restrictions.
Each arena is treated as a separate facility, with separate entryways, assembly areas and exits.
Every user group has also completed its own Return-to-play plan in accordance with provincial health orders.
As the restriction on gatherings of 50 or more has yet to be lifted, each arena will have a maximum of 20 skaters allowed on the ice at one time.
Stands and spectator seating, changing rooms, and other amenities will not be used, the report adds.
“The current schedule was built to achieve high-usage and quick turnarounds between groups,” writes Adam Davey, Director of Community Services and Public Safety in the report to council.
“The current process can be described as, ‘players arrive dressed, get on the ice, and then get out.’ This process allows the maximum number of user groups’ ice time,” Davy added.
To ensure proper cleaning can occur, there is also a thirty-minute turn around between each group.
“Initial indications suggest the new process is working as well as is reasonably expected, all things considered,” explained Davy in the report.
The current plan will remain in place for the remainder of the summer ice block provided the province remains in Phase three of the restart plan.
Administration will reassess the schedule before the start of winter use, likely in early October.
However, because only three of the six ice sheets are available, all user groups will be allotted a maximum of 50 per cent of their normal ice requests.
Fall and Winter arena usage forecast
Ice use demand for the upcoming Fall and Winter seasons will depend on if a return to gameplay will be allowed, and if the current 50 person gathering limit is lifted to allow for ‘modified spectatorship’, Davy explains.
If the gathering limit remains in place and no gameplay allowed, demand might be manageable under the current restrictions.
Under these circumstances, main user groups will be allowed a maximum of half the usage as expected.
If gameplay returns, in particular WHL and BCHL games, Davy says just three sheets of ice may not be enough to meet the demand, and a fourth sheet like the CN Centre might have to be considered for reopening by Council.
Indoor walking
In previous years, four indoor walking options were available for Prince George residents during the winter.
These include the Northern Sports Centre, Pine Centre Mall, the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena and the CN Centre.
The most cost-effective option, says Davy, would be to open the CN Centre for a limited indoor walking service, as the arena can allow ice usage and walking at the same time.
However, it is not recommended by administration at this time, due to the budget shortfall and alternative options existing.
Fans and concerts
If the 50 person gathering limit were to change, a future report will look at recommendations for reopening.
Currently, both the BCHL and WHL seasons are tentatively scheduled to begin in early December, according to the leagues.
Programs temporarily unavailable
With the closures of the RMCA and Elksentre, indoor public skating and learn to skate programs would be difficult support.
“There is no access to the skate shops for skate rental services and sharpening. With current COVID restrictions, a registration system similar to the Aquatic Centre is required, and participation is limited due to physical distancing requirements,” Davy explained, adding the necessity of close proximity makes these programs particularly hard for younger children.
However, there are multiple outdoor rinks, including the Ice Oval, which may be available for recreational opportunities, he says.
Aquatics
Scheduled to reopen September 8th, the online registration system is available for use starting on August 31.
The online registration tool also allows the city to collect information necessary in the event contact tracing is needed.
A per-visit admission registration process will be required vs. a drop-in aquatic pass to ensure occupancy doesn’t exceed 50.
There will be two exceptions to the pay-per-use system: UPass and the Leisure Access Program (LAP).
Patrons utilizing these programs will be required to phone the Aquatic Centre for over-the-phone registration and additional instructions.
Finally, walk-in registration is permitted if swim blocks are not fully booked.
Each swim block has a maximum of 40 registered spaces available.
Only three bathers will be allowed in the hot tub at once, and the lazy river is available for one person at a time.
However, the fitness centre, sauna, steam rooms, high diving boards and towers, as well as the waves in the wave pool, will not be in use.
11 full-time staff, 20 regular part-time staff and 16 casual staff have all been recalled.