Grey Highlands council has defeated a resolution that would have explored the option of community volunteers working in local arenas.
At its meeting on Sept. 20, council defeated the resolution in a 3-3 vote. Deputy Mayor Dane Nielsen and Councillors Paul Allen and Joel Loughead opposed the resolution. Mayor Paul McQueen was absent.
Coun. Tom Allwood brought the motion forward and requested a staff report to examine the feasibility of local volunteers being used to help staff arenas to ensure they stay open seven days a week.
Grey Highlands operates arenas in Markdale, Flesherton, Feversham and Rocklyn. In recent years, staffing levels at the arenas have decreased causing the facilities to be closed on some days. Through its recreation master planning process, the municipality is looking at the future of its four ice surfaces, with the possibility of one of them being converted to other uses.
The resolution to have volunteers working at the arenas found support from Councillors Nadia Dubyk and Dan Wickens.
“We’ve clearly heard from the community their wish to have their arenas open as much as possible,” said Dubyk.
“The arenas are costing us money whether they’re sitting there idle or not,” said Wickens.
The concept was also supported by Rocklyn area resident and former councillor Dave Clarke, who spoke to council during the open forum portion of the meeting.
“I feel all the arenas should be open the same number of days, regardless of whether it’s six or seven,” said Clarke. “At my home arena in Rocklyn, we have all kinds of volunteers. We wouldn’t have any issue finding enough people to keep it open.”
Both Allen and Nielsen spoke extensively in opposition to the resolution.
Allen suggested the entire notion was a logistical nightmare for the municipality.
“Are we going to interview volunteers to make sure we have someone acceptable?” Allen asked, who said the scenario creates the possibility of volunteers being rejected for the job. Allen said the operations of the arenas are complex jobs with many moving parts.
“The liability is huge here. I think this is a real slippery slope,” said Allen. “With these buildings, there is more to it than standing and unlocking the door.”
In response, Allwood said the resolution was to have a staff report on the concept – not to implement it at this time.
“At this point, we’re asking for the feasibility of doing it through a staff report. I’d still like to see the motion pass and a staff report come back to council,” said Allwood.
Nielsen said during the 2023 budget process council had considered and rejected the option of increasing funding for arena operations to have them open more often.
“I do not think it would be appropriate to have volunteers to come in and open and operate any of our arenas,” said Nielsen.
