Discussion:
The City of Windsor operates nine (9) indoor ice rinks. There are four (4) located at the WFCU Centre, two (2) located at Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex (CPRC), two (2) located at Forest Glade Arena and one (1) located at Adie Knox Herman Arena. Presently, due to COVID-19 and current demand the City is operating three ice pads at the WFCU Centre and both ice pads at CPRC. The City is preparing to install ice at the WFCU Centre main bowl in the month of November in preparation for a potential OHL season as well as a potential increase in ice demand from adult users.
City Administration worked with local groups and organizations in the late summer to determine who would be requiring ice rentals for the 2020/2021 winter season. After this initial consultation, City Council approved opening and operating ice at both CPRC and the WFCU Centre with the option to open more should demand exceed capacity. Presently, the two ice pads at CPRC and the three community rinks at the WFCU Centre are being utilized at 89% capacity of Prime Ice and 53% capacity of Non-Prime Ice. The main bowl ice at the WFCU Centre will become operational once the Ontario Hockey League announces an official schedule.
With ice at CPRC and the WFCU Centre being utilized for hockey and figure skating rentals, it would not be able to house curling in those venues. Due to the set up of a curling rink and the type of ice required, it is not possible to share an ice pad between hockey/figure skating and curling. In addition, Forest Glade Arena is currently under agreement for COVID-related purposes. Furthermore, Adie Knox Arena is being used to house the Unemployed Help Centre food shelter. Food hampers are being prepared at this location and food is being distributed daily to those in need. If City Council wishes to proceed with installing ice and offering any ice sport (including curling) at Adie Knox, this group would need to be notified and all the food collected would need to be displaced. The Unemployed Help Centre originally began operating at the WFCU Centre shortly after the pandemic began but was relocated to Adie Knox in late August when the City began making ice at the WFCU Centre to accommodate the returning ice users.
Due to a lack of available space at City arenas as described above, there is currently no capacity to provide a curling rink in the short term (i.e. for the 2020/21 season).
In 2019, City Council approved the new Recreation Master Plan. During the creation of this plan, the consultants examined the overall ice inventory within the City. It was determined that the current (pre-pandemic) demand for ice rentals results in one surplus ice pad within the City of Windsor. Long-term replacement and conversion of one surplus ice pad into a City-owned and operated curling facility could be considered as part of a long-term service delivery review, in consultation with Roseland, as well as other sport organizations. Administration would recommend preparing a detailed report outlining the costs associated with this option.
Risk Analysis:
There is a high risk that, should an arena ice rink be used for curling, then the Unemployed Help Centre will be displaced from Adie Knox and that the remaining donations would be able to be removed expeditiously. Associated with displacing the Unemployment Help Centre from Adie Knox will be reputational risk for the City of