I wrote a Letter to the Editor about the critical shortage of ice time at the Lacombe arena ice facilities for local minor user groups.
I mentioned that the dressing rooms are not adequate in Lacombe.
There is a critical shortage of available ice time for minor hockey, ringette and figure skating groups in Lacombe. A CRITICAL CRISIS.
I’m observing the ice usage now with the current population of Lacombe, compared to that ice usage for minor hockey in Lacombe when I was the ice coordinator for the Lacombe Minor Hockey Association (LMHA) executive in the late 80s and early 90s.
I was on that LMHA executive in several different positions over a number of years.
The available ice time was short and or very tight back then.
Lacombe’s population has grown a lot in the last 25 or 26 years so it is obvious that the available ice time would be critically short because ice was short back then.
So the letter which I presented to the editor which was graciously published is a way for me, a long time resident, to contribute suggestions so that people who are not aware of this would hopefully now understand more about this situation of a crisis about ice time availability.
So I’ve had some compliments about my regards to the problem but apparently there are some people who are annoyed that I have taken the opportunity to express my point of view.
My letter to the editor is a form of our freedom of speech. Anyone who disagrees about my ideas could use some form of freedom of speech to suggest how I might be correct or incorrect.
Whatever the current City councillors decide will be the policy going forward. I understand how their decision-making is achieved. At the same time I can continue to say politely, whatever it is that I believe.
I believe then, again, that Lacombe needs to construct more indoor ice sport facilities with correct dimensions of artificial ice playing surfaces. And I also believe that Lacombe needs adequate dressing rooms.
The decisions of City council for projects such as this could be to include ideas that would benefit the City here for many years in the future.
The facilities that exist are nice. They have been ‘pieced’ on as additions so the space, parking and amenities get more and more awkward.
Whether you agree with my thoughts or not, I will say it yet another time that Lacombe with our current population needs more ice surfaces.
I will continue to write because freedom of speech is a good thing to utilize. Build or don’t build.
I think Lacombe should build something as soon as possible, not two or three or five or 10 years away.
Now, I’m old so I don’t need any of this.
The children in Lacombe deserve more ice surfaces so that they don’t have to go to neighbouring towns such as Clive and Alix and Blackfalds and other places. Lacombe needs to provide for Lacombe’s people.
W. Sandy Douglas
Lacombe