By Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A proposal from staff at East Zorra-Tavistock (EZT) Township to eliminate a month’s worth of ice at the Tavistock and District Recreation Centre turned into an hour-long debate on several issues.
They included whether user groups had been properly consulted and hiring a consultant to do a study on the 30-year-old facility. Council eventually voted to keep the ice in, at least for August 2025. Coun. Matthew Gillespie was the only one to vote in favour of the motion to eliminate ice use in August.
Will Jacques, the township’s manager of community and recreation services, presented a report to council in support of not offering ice in August.
“Staff completed a survey of area municipalities to determine who is putting ice in their arenas outside of the standard September-to-end-of-April ice season. After survey results and its review of the matter, staff are recommending that the township no longer provide August ice on a go-forward basis. This recommendation is based on facility/refrigeration-plant considerations, the lack of optimal facility usage and the overall cost to the township in providing this service,” said Jacques.
He added it appears the arena was not designed to provide ice in warmer months and having it results in greater wear and tear on equipment, and a moisture problem resulting in mould.
“What we do know is that, certainly, the walls, ceiling insulation, the door, windows etc. clearly were not designed as modern-day arenas are. … We are obviously seeing warmer conditions in September and in April that is already causing extra stress on the (refrigeration) plant.”
Jacques said black-mould stains wind up on the concrete wall separating the ice surface from the lobby.
“We have had mould multiple times that has formed, again, without our dehumidification system able to keep up. Quite simply, our building and refrigeration system would give evidence (the arena) was not designed for the purpose of operating outside of the standard September-to-April operating times.”
The main user group of ice in August 2024 was the Tavistock Skating Club with 66 hours. The group declined to comment on the story when asked by the Gazette. The total hours of usage last year was 175, down from 250 in 2023. The Tavistock Braves are the second-largest user as the team holds its training camp during the month.
The ice surface is covered with wood for a few days during the Tavistock Fall Fair and then ready again for use within a few days. Coun. Scott Rudy raised a concern about ice not being put in until mid-September following the event, meaning a reduction of about six weeks of availability. He also questioned if user groups were adequately consulted.
“The user groups have spoken to what their needs are. I would say at this point, staff are coming mostly from the perspective of what’s best for our facility at this point and going forward. I would have to assume if one is using ice now, they would be interested in using exactly the same ice as they have had in the past,” said Jacques.
Rudy questioned why user groups weren’t asked about their intentions for September ice and expressed his overall concern about a lack of consultation.
“We need to be engaging with our users more often. They should not have been surprised to see this on an agenda for today. They should know it was coming before that, that we had the discussion, we are changing our ice and not opening it in August. That should not have been a surprise to our user groups.”
Rudy’s comments were echoed by Coun. Steven Van Wyk, who was also worried about a lack of consultation with groups such as minor hockey and the Braves.
“This showed up on the agenda on Friday. Huge scramble talking to our user groups to get feedback.”
He added removing ice will have a profound effect on the community and users should have more time to provide input on any decision.
EZT CAO Karen DePrest told council staff consulted with the skating club and other groups.
“In fairness to staff, consultation was done with the primary user group. They were aware. Discussion had been had with groups prior to the report ever even being considered being on the agenda today.”
Jaques explained the township would need to put significant money into retrofitting the facility to properly offer ice in warmer months, something council voted unanimously in favour of. A motion was passed to add a line in the draft budget to hire a consultant to complete a report on what that might look like. Council’s budget deliberations begin in March.
The arena is about 30 years old and Jacques said the average life expectancy for an arena is approximately 50 years.
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