Landmark ice time left up to rec board

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This article was published 29/01/2024 (469 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tache council decided to not interfere in the programming power of the Landmark Recreation Association after concerns were raised by local teams about ice time being reserved for regional teams.

The vote was unanimous to allow the rec association to continue assigning ice times at their discretion, with a part of the council motion also encouraging local rentals but not mandating them, and to have the rec association define and review the ice rental rates.

Mayor Armand Poirier was not at the meeting and did not return requests for comment on the decision. Poirier had promised the issue would be resolved.

Representatives from the Royals Ringette board of directors, who brought the issue of repeated failed attempts at securing ice time to council in the fall, also did not return requests for interviews.

At issue was whether to give priority to local Tache teams when giving out ice time in Landmark, which does save spots mostly in late afternoons during the week for Landmark Minor Hockey. But as seen on the arena’s weekly schedule, Monday to Thursday evenings are mostly taken up by older-aged Eastman hockey and ringette teams including the U15 AAA Selects, U15 AA Snipers, U14 AA Flames, U16 AA Flames, and U19 AA Flames.

“I guess we can diffuse all of this with a simple question: if you can maybe plan ringette in for next year in your schedule, and if you can have maybe a commitment that this will be considered?” said Tache facilities manager Heiko Zinn at the January council meeting.

“I’m always committed to going to them first, but I also said our schedule is full,” said Landmark Arena manager Kevin Plett.

“For next year I meant,” replied Zinn.

“It’s full next year… There has to be openings is what I’m saying,” said Plett.

“If the current groups that go there continue to want to come year after year, I’m not comfortable with telling them no, that’s all,” he added.

The arena manager agreed with council members that more ice is needed for access during the most desired times on weekday evening. But he pointed out that there is space during other times.

“There’s lots of ice available. The problem is we all want the same ice,” he said.

“Rates have nothing to do with this,” Plett insisted.

Letters on the decision were to be sent to Royals Ringette and Lorette Minor Hockey, who also voiced their desire to play more in Landmark with the arena in Lorette very busy.

Coun. Steven Bowker said as outdoor rinks were opening up across the RM, maybe it was time to look at those as options for practices.

“It’s a two-way street. If we had one more program in Landmark that needed ice in Lorette and asked Lorette ‘hey, drop one of your regular renters from last year please so we can play here,’ is that going to also happen? I highly doubt that,” said Bowker, adding he was not ready to spend another $30 million to add another sheet of ice after the old Lorette arena is torn down to make way for the new rec centre.

No regional teams were on next week’s Lorette Community Complex calendar, with only Lorette and Landmark teams listed.

The Landmark Rec board is made up of volunteers in charge of facilities in Landmark including the arena, soccer pitches, baseball diamonds and other green space.