Nanaimo residents can prepare to lace up their skates and hit the ice at local arenas in the near future.
According to a press release, the City of Nanaimo will install a single sheet of ice at the Nanaimo Ice Centre – a multi-rink facility – on July 27 and should the demand warrant it, reopen Cliff McNabb Arena on Aug. 3 and install a second sheet of ice at the NIC by Sept. 1.
The city says there will be a number of safety protocols in place at all reopened arenas.
Among the safety measures include restricting the number of people on the ice at a single time to a maximum of 16 skaters, which includes coaches, volunteers, and instructors.
Skaters will need to arrive no earlier than 20 minutes prior to the start of ice time and will be required to leave the facility within 20 minutes of their ice time ending, according to the city.
Skaters must also come to the arena already dressed in hockey gear and must follow physical distancing guidelines.
“The reopening strategy for the arenas has been a very thorough process. We are looking forward to having ice in the arenas over the next couple of weeks and being able to invite the community back. It will look different in many ways than it was before the pandemic, but the safety and health of the public and staff is our top priority,” Lynn Wark, the city’s director of recreation and culture services, in a press release.
Further information can be found at www.nanaimo.ca.
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