The City of Orillia has decided to remove the ice at Brian Orser Arena due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marcia Russell, manager of recreation services, said the ice at the arena on Gill Street is typically removed on March 7. The decision was made to remove the ice five weeks early because of the uncertainty surrounding the longevity of the provincial lockdown and the stay-at-home order.
With the blue rink at Rotary Place being used as a COVID-19 assessment centre, the green rink at Rotary Place and the rink at Brian Orser Arena saw a 97 per cent usage rate for prime-time ice prior to the province entering the red (control) zone, which put major restrictions on many of the arenas' user groups. The revenues and expenses for operating both arenas this winter were in line with the city’s COVID-19 budget projections, Russell said.
If COVID-19 restrictions are lifted later this winter or in the early spring, it is unlikely the ice will go back into Brian Orser Arena.
“Maintaining ice is costly and, like many municipalities, the city thoroughly evaluated the cost/benefit analysis of maintaining ice surfaces and decided to remove one of its ice pads,” Russell said.
City parks and recreation staff are now working with user groups to provide ice access at Rotary Place for the remainder of the season and early spring.
“Annually, spring ice typically is only offered on one ice pad within the city and, based on the 2021 calendar, spring ice would begin on March 27, 2021,” Russell said.
With no ice at Brian Orser Arena and no public access to the rink during the lockdown, the city has been forced to lay off its arena staff.
“The city is committed to delivering essential services to the community while also mitigating the financial impact of provincial orders on the city’s operating costs in order to proactively and responsibly manage the financial impact of the pandemic on the municipality," Russell said. "This included the temporary suspension of employment based on an evaluation of the services not permitted to operate or be open during the mandated lockdown and stay-at-home orders.”
The city expects to reopen and Brian Orser Arena later this summer.
“It is anticipated ice will go back into (the arena) at the normal allotted time at the end of August in preparation for the fall ice season,” Russell said.
