Times-Chronicle Staff
Oliver residents are being asked to save their arena from possible closure.
The problem is the facility is “on its last legs” because the brine lines (under the floor) are breaking, jeopardizing the ability to keep the ice frozen.
“If the lines fail, the arena will need to be shuttered, possibly forever, since the cost of immediate repairs may be too big a burden for our little town to carry,” said Benita Baerg, grant specialist for Oliver Parks and Recreation.
She said part of the solution could be winning the annual Kraft Hockeyville contest for $250,000, which will go towards one lucky Canadian town in need of arena upgrades.
Between now and Feb. 14, people need to rally by nominating the arena. People are asked to visit www.krafthockeyville.caand click “find my arena.” Then, follow the links to show your support.
“Our arena is more than a building, it’s where community is built,” Baerg said.
For 51 years, thousands of kids have strapped on skates, stepped onto the ice and learned to love the game of hockey because of the Oliver arena. “If we all invest just a couple minutes to rally around Oliver’s Kraft Hockeyville application, we have the chance of earning dollars towards keeping our well-loved arena open,” Baerg said.
Arena…altho it may burden our little town…repairs would be alot less than rebuilding and maybe instead of wasting funds again on the feasibility study for a pool…put that money towards something like the Arena that is in need