“Get in, you train, you get out!”
That may sound like a stern rule, but it's what the City of Prince George is hoping to implement starting Monday (Aug. 17) when the Kin Arenas are set to open for local user groups to begin summer training sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On July 27, city council voted unanimously to keep all three of its ice sheets open, along with the Prince George Aquatic Centre, so some activity could be held for sports earmarked for the fall and to get training back in motion.
Note: It’s a max of 50 people per ice sheet, so 150 in the whole building, but closed off in certain areas to avoid overlap & interaction.
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) August 14, 2020
City rep. Wade Loukes says 40 in each arena will be for athletes & coaches, while the remaining 10 will be for cleaning staff | #CityOfPG pic.twitter.com/sU6KNQHrNh
Today (Aug. 14), the city gave a tour of the facilities and the COVID-19 safety protocols in place that must be followed by everyone coming in and out.
Staff has set up specific entrances for each arena as no more than 50 people can be allowed in its space and that includes no spectators or parents unless an athlete needs extra assistance.
Chairs are also set up in those entrances for them to get ready before heading out onto the ice.
However, they're encouraged to come to the arenas as fully dressed as they can so the only thing that needs to be done is lacing up skates and putting on a helmet.
“We’re trying to work with that transition and not trying to get more than 50 people for an event, that’s what we’re trying to accommodate and utilize as much of our field of playtime," said City Arena Operations Manager Wade Loukes along the tour this morning, also anticipating user groups to be on the ice from as early as 6 a.m. to as late as 11 p.m.
"So with our staff we came up with some ideas, along with other communities and, of course, with our groups.”
Athletes are asked to come dressed as much as they can, so, essentially, lacing up skates & putting on a helmet would be the only thing to do before stepping out onto the ice | #CityOfPG pic.twitter.com/BjQVrVCa7H
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) August 14, 2020
The overall goal is to have as minimal contact as possible, so all three facilities are closed off to each other and have separate entrances and exits for user groups.
Signage is indicated where athletes, coaches and staff to safely maintain physical distance from others and to double-check their conditions, with city encouraging anyone not feeling well to stay home.
Loukes says groups were initially confused about the capacity rule as many thought only 50 people would be allowed in the entire Kin-Arena facility.
"There’s mixed messages on that, so we could say 50 in here, but you have to look at the spacing and what we have to accommodate. Kin 3 has 50, Kin 1 has 50, [Kin 2 has 50] if we went upstairs to use the lounge, that’s a different entity. Then we have to think, how can we get the people out, so you won’t be crossing paths with others.”
40 chairs are set up by the exercise area inside Kin 2, separated into 2 groups (again) to avoid minimal contact.
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) August 14, 2020
Once complete, athletes will exit the doors in the same area | #CityOfPG pic.twitter.com/eKfCqq1xkR
Sanitizing backpacks will be worn by staff to spray common contact points while the ice sheets are in use, including the zamboni, the boards and the chairs in the lobby.
This will be conducted in either a 15- or 30-minute turnover time between sessions depending on the option to reflood the ice.
User groups will have sessions of either 45, 60 or 90 minutes in length to accommodate the number of athletes in a given training camp.
For more information on the city's COVID-19 safety plan for the Kin Arenas, you can visit its website.
