With all of the financial challenges ahead for the City of Prince George, city council can't lose sight of the fact that along with the costly renovation and replacement of existing infrastructure, new projects also need to be done to enhance the community and serve both present and future residents.
The merit of these projects can't be the sole deciding factor. A performing arts centre would be a wonderful addition to Prince George and residents certainly deserve such a facility but the price tag of roughly $50 million is simply too rich at this time.
Cost, return on investment, uniqueness, health and cultural benefits, community engagement and willing partners are all elements to consider before moving forward. Once those are all taken into consideration, a $3.7 million refrigeration system for the Outdoor Ice Oval looks like a winner. The cost, compared to the performing arts centre, a new downtown pool (roughly $40 million) or a new roof on the Aquatic Centre (roughly $20 million), seems reasonable, especially since the refrigeration system could last decades.
The return on investment would be significant in both the short and long term. The facility would be able to host provincial, national and even international long-track speedskating events. After long track speedskating had to be moved from Prince George to Fort
St. John during the 2015 Canada Winter Games, the B.C. Speed Skating Association bailed on holding the provincial championships here. Everyone loves the venue but nobody likes being at the mercy of the elements to put on an event.
Having high-level training facilities in a community translates directly into the development of high-level athletes. Alyx Treasure competing in high jump at the Summer Olympics in Rio can be directly tied to her development as a youngster at Masich Stadium. In other words, with a refrigerated oval in place, it would only be a matter of time before Prince George would send an athlete to the Winter Olympics in long track speedskating.
The facility could also serve as a training facility for speedskaters from elsewhere, a great fit with the Canadian Sports School for Northern B.C. high school students at UNBC's Northern Sports Centre. The facility would be one of only three refrigerated ice ovals in the country, and the only one in Western Canada.
More than elite competitors would benefit directly. An ice oval that able to accommodate outdoor skating for more than 120 days of the year would improve the health and fitness of local residents. A wide range of community events and celebrations could be held at the site, both summer and winter, to bring residents together. The site wouldn't sit empty during the warmer months, either. The concrete surface would be a natural venue for rollerblading and kids with skateboards and scooters. People using wheelchairs and walkers would find the oval a good place to exercise and be around other people, as well.
There are partners interested in helping make the refrigerated oval a reality. Both businesses and other levels of government find the project attractive from a cost perspective and as a community legacy piece. Some of that support has already happened. Canfor, for example, donated its 2,000 square foot Canfor House from the Winter Games to the Outdoor Ice Oval Society to serve as a club house to allow people a warm place to put on and take off their skates.
Service clubs are also interested in helping out because the Outdoor Ice Oval Society is so committed to the project. In its presentation to city council on Monday, the group pledged to raise $500,000 towards construction and provide 600 volunteer hours each year for ice making and site maintenance. Those are the kinds of partners people want to work with.
City council agreed to put the project on its 2018 capital plan as an unfunded option, meaning that it's on a wishlist but no money has been promised. That allows the society to go out and seek corporate support and government grants while giving the city the flexibility to step up or step away from the project.
Hopefully, the Outdoor Ice Oval Society can line up those partners, their dollars and their support over the next 18 months, making the decision to devote local tax dollars a simple one for city council.
-- Managing editor Neil Godbout
