Sackville town council unanimously approved the waiving of public skate fees for the remainder of this ice season at their meeting Monday night. That means the lunchtime weekday skates, as well as the Sunday family skate, will be free for all starting this week.
Coun. Mike Tower originally suggested the move back in February, as a way to remove a cost barrier for anyone in need of a positive activity for physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Some people might think that $8 for our family isn’t that much,” said Tower on Feb. 8, “But for some, it could be the difference between having this or not having that.”
Tower didn’t end up making a formal motion in February, and the matter was left with staff to evaluate.
When the formal proposal came from staff last week, Tower’s one issue was the short duration. The ice season normally winds up at the end of March, although this month’s public facilities report to council said that may get extended to mid-April, based on requests staff have received.
Tower expressed concern that four to six weeks would not be enough time to evaluate the success of the waived fees program, and that could affect the chances of having the program extended into next season.
Coun. Shawn Mesheau was prepared to back up Tower’s motion to amend the timeline for the waived fees, but after some confusion over the exact process by which that would occur, Tower withdrew his concern, saying instead that he would be back in August with a request to continue free skates at that point.
“Everybody understands what I’m trying to do and everybody seems to agree with it,” said Tower. “I’ll withdraw my motion, and I’ll bring it back in August.”
Since moving to the yellow phase of restrictions, there is now room for 35 people on the ice at the Civic Centre. In addition to the now free weekday lunch-hour skates and a Sunday family skate, the town also recently implemented two extra skate sessions, one for seniors on Wednesday mornings, and one for parents and tots on Friday mornings.
All public skates are now free.
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