The ice in Trail’s Cominco Arena won’t be removed this spring.
Facilities maintenance manager Brenden Oglow told city council this week that the city has received feedback from user groups that they would like to see the ice left in all year.
Recent renovations to the arena floor and dehumidification system have provided the infrastructure to make it to happen.
Oglow said they will keep an eye on the costs. He said there will be increased electricity use, and it will require more staff to maintain, but it will be offset by time not spent on putting the ice in and taking it out.
“We believe the impact overall would be very positive for the community and for the West Kootenay in general,” he said. “We’d be the only rink running summertime ice. I think we’d attract a lot of users to the facility and to the area.”
Events that normally use the arena after the ice is removed, such as graduation ceremonies, will still be accommodated, Oglow said. The ice will be covered with plywood, something that will be tested next month during BC Winter Games ceremonies.
Council unanimously passed a motion endorsing the idea of year-round ice, and asked for a report back next year.
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