After a year of research, surveys and workships, the Fundy Regional Service Commission has released its long-awaited draft regional ice strategy.
It looks at the 12 arena facilities in the region and outlines eight strategic goals to improve efficiency, accessibility and inclusiveness at the arenas.
Nick Cameron, recreational facilitator for the commission, told our newsroom their top short-term goal is the need for more data.
“Right now, we can get some information at the national level and provincial level … but it’d be good to have some more local information that we can ensure we’re best serving residents in this area,” Cameron said.
Another goal is to develop a regional funding formula in time for the 2019-20 ice season, and Cameron said the data would help ensure it is fair to all communities.
“We have some preliminary data to show us how many residents from other communities are using Saint John’s facilities,” Cameron said, “but what we want to know now is how does that balance out when we look at users at facilities in Quispamsis, Rothesay, Grand Bay-Westfield and St. Martins.”
More regional collaboration
The strategy also calls for more collaboration among municipalities and local service districts — one of the goals is to create a regional endorsement process for capital funding proposals.
Cameron said this is important as the Rothesay Arena and the four civic arenas in Saint John are in need of significant upgrades.
“When it comes to these five facilities that need some work within the next five years, that could be something that will help expedite those funding requests to the province,” he said.
The strategy will go to municipal councils for their review and then go through a public consultation process.
Photo: The inside of the qPlex in Quispamsis. (File photo)
Story by Brad Perry
Twitter: @BradMPerry
Email: perry.brad@radioabl.ca
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