A goaltender does a warm-up lap behind the locked doors of Nanaimo's Cliff McNabb Arena on Tuesday, Aug. 4. The facility open exclusively for private bookings is filled with COVID-19 guidelines and directional signage. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

ice time

More arenas open in Nanaimo and Parksville for limited, small-group use

Aug 5, 2020 | 12:26 PM

NANAIMO — More ice sheets have re-opened for private bookings on the mid island as more indoor recreation options become available locally.

The City of Nanaimo opened Cliff McNabb Arena on Aug. 3 on the same day Regional District of Nanaimo officials opened the Howie Meeker Arena at Oceanside Place.

John Marcellus, the RDN’s supt. of arena services, said the second ice sheet at Oceanside Place remains a dry floor recreation space, while the pond near the front lobby for younger skaters is now open.

“We are open to the general public for the sale of bus passes and skate sharpening, however the remainder of the facility is only open to the user groups and they have to do it through a pre-registered booking.”

Marcellus said restrictions apply to the numbers of people in the facility at a given time.

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He said education and awareness will be important things to consider for all Oceanside Place users under COVID-19 rules.

“I think the biggest thing is making people realize that ‘hey the facility does not look the same as it did in January, it looks a little bit different now.'”

An ambassador representing each user group is responsible for ensuring safety protocols are being met, while RDN staff provide a support role, Marcellus said.

The City of Nanaimo intends to open the primary ice surface at the Nanaimo Ice Centre on Sept. 1 for non contact skills and drills.

Frank Crane Arena will remain closed indefinitely.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes