By Ian Holmes

Nanaimo council approves outdoor rink for Rogers Hometown Hockey

Nov 29, 2016 | 2:24 PM

NANAIMO — Nanaimo city council has approved spending $200,000 for a temporary outdoor skating rink as part of the upcoming nationally televised Rogers Hometown Hockey event.

The 40×80 foot rink will be installed at Maffeo Sutton park for a two week stretch in February, according to a city staff report.

The purchase puts the city of Nanaimo’s price tag associated with the Feb. 25-26 telecast at $322,000, following approval of $122,000 on a separate package the previous week. Council has also requested a report on cost options to permanently owning the outdoor rink, which a staff report states would cost up to an estimated $580,000.

“We need to prove to a lot of people that we can do something really important to this Hometown Hockey event,” said Coun. Bill Bestwick, who heads the event’s local organizing committee.

Bestwick was challenged by concerned resident John Dacombe, who’s against the temporary rink. Dacombe referenced pot holes around Nanaimo and no curbside glass recycling as examples of basic services that should come first.

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“Budgeting is about picking and choosing and my argument is you have to pick the basics before you pick great frills, but it’s a frill,” said Dacombe. “You need to spend it on the basics first.”

Bestwick believes the benefits far outweigh the costs, estimating that between $750,000 to $950,000 in value gained through exposure on Nanaimo will be realized from the nationwide telecast. He says the event is a great opportunity to create more pride and a lasting legacy in Nanaimo. Bestwick sees great upside in buying the outdoor rink permanently.

“When the Ladysmith Light Up parade started, I’ll bet there were people out there saying, ‘What, you’re gonna do what? You’re gonna spend city money and city time buying light bulbs and putting them in trees?’ Well it’s the best thing that Ladysmith does,” said Bestwick.

The vote was 8-1 in favour of the temporary rink. Mayor Bill McKay was the lone no vote. Councillors Jerry Hong and Diane Brennan both expressed concerns about the planning and preparation for the event, but ultimately backed the outdoor rink rental. NanaimoNewsNOW reached out to the cities of Victoria, Kamloops and Penticton to find out how much they spent on hosting recent Rogers Hometown Hockey events. The city of Victoria’s Jeff Day replied on Wednesday by stating that it didn’t spend any direct money on the nationally televised event last February. Day says Tourism Victoria spent just under $4,000, adding that several in-kind community based donations were also made. Day points out that staff time was committed toward the event, which he says is standard for coordinating such gatherings. The city of Penticton reports that it spent $23,500 on its Rogers Hometown Hockey event earlier this year. The city of Kamloops did not respond.

Coun. Wendy Pratt said she waffled back-and-forth as to which way she’d vote, but said she likes the legacy component that an outdoor ice sheet would provide to Nanaimo.

“I see that we can build on this one. I see that this is something that we can turn into a winter wonderland every year, that we can do something really amazing in the city that brings people together from all over the island,” said Pratt.

The $200,000 cost of renting a temporary ice sheet comes with the purchase of a removable ice mat, according to a staff report. Bestwick says buying the ice sheet and equipment outright would allow different areas of Nanaimo to benefit from an outdoor skating experience. Another benefit, according to Bestwick, would be relocating the Winter Wonderland event to free up valuable winter holiday season ice for hockey tournaments, which boosts the local economy.

The staff report says the rental of the rink this year will serve as a chance for council and staff to gain insights on future possibilities for outdoor skating facilities in Nanaimo.