The Nanaimo Ice Centre will re-open to ice users on Monday, July 27 when the second sheet welcomes clients after a more than five-month closure. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

COOL NEWS

Nanaimo’s ice arenas set for phased re-opening

Jul 14, 2020 | 6:03 AM

NANAIMO — Arenas in the city will re-open in phases beginning with the first available sheet of ice ready for Monday, July 27.

That’s when the NIC # 2 surface will be available.

City Councillors unanimously approved the plan on Monday, July 13, which represents the first indoor recreation facilities to re-open in Nanaimo since most shut down abruptly in mid-March due to COVID-19.

Based on demand, City officials plan to have Cliff McNabb Arena re-opened on Aug. 3, while the re-opening of NIC # 1 is slated for Sept. 1.

A targeted date for Frank Crane Arena’s re-opening has not yet been established.

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The City’s director of recreation and Culture Lynn Wark told councillors demand for their ice facilities is high.

“There are many people in the community who are very anxious to get back on the ice. We have been fielding many calls and emails.”

Wark said a phased re-opening for their rinks allows them to be more easily scaled down if a second wave of COVID-19 hits. She said the re-opening schedule was chosen to create as much separation as possible to prevent the spread of the virus.

A ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy adopted in other jurisdictions will also be implemented in Nanaimo to ensure a range of safety protocols are met.

“They may get a verbal warning and then a written warning and then lose their ice time because it’s critical that we make sure that COVID doesn’t spread,” Wark said, who noted other communities have had issues with ice users not complying with safety protocols.

An ‘ambassador’ for each user group to better control their environment and ensure social distancing guidelines are being followed will be adopted in Nanaimo, Wark said.

Her report outlined requirements to cap crowds at 50 people in a given facility, while revised operating schedules are in place allow for increased cleaning.

Nanaimo Minor Hockey president Brad Knight said he’s excited to see a road map to re-opening Nanaimo’s ice arenas is in place.

He said it’s important to have some assurances for their 600 players, with an expected 150 to 200 additional registrants over the next several weeks.

“It’s really important for the kids that are trying to better themselves in hockey to have this opportunity to get back on the ice,” Knight told NanaimoNewsNOW. “Those are the kids that really use that ice in July and August are the kids trying to get ahead.”

Knight admitted his frustration as Nanaimo is well behind several other Vancouver Island communities in re-opening its arena facilities.

He said BC Hockey will be among the organizations guiding the eventual shift away from the current allowable no-contact skills and drills routine.

Knight said it’s anybody’s guess as to when any semblance of ice hockey games will happen in Nanaimo and elsewhere in the province.

“It’s hard to say, no one really knows. I’m going to probably say October or November is when we’re probably going to see some form of action and I’m not sure what that’s going to look like,” Knight said.

The City is expected to reveal re-opening plans shortly for its pools, Bowen Park Complex, Beban Park Social Centre and Oliver Woods Community Centre.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes