|
Kincardine to cover ice rental for CIS Hockey Challenge By Liz Dadson |
Kincardine council To Comment on this article Click Here |
||||
| Kincardine
council has agreed to pay about $2,000 in ice rental costs in support
of the Canadian IntraUniversity Sport (CIS) Great Lakes Challenge
hockey tournament, set for Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at the Davidson Centre. The event will feature some of Canada's premier female hockey players from the University of Regina, the University of Lethbridge, the University of Guelph, and York University. Title sponsor is Superheat FGH of Kincardine. Lead organizer Josh Howald was at Kincardine council last night (Sept. 7), in committee-of-the-whole, outlining the challenge and asking for assistance with the ice rental fees.  Josh Howald He said the hockey teams are paying $18,000 each to come to Kincardine for the tournament, and the organizing committee is covering transportation from London to Kincardine and back for the teams, at a cost of $1,700, plus the cost of officials at $900. The committee has received the reduced minor-hockey and figure-skating rate for ice time, including practice on Thursday and six games on the weekend, at a total cost of $2,300. Howald asked if those fees could be reduced further or waived because all proceeds from the hockey challenge are going toward the Davidson Centre revitalization project. Councillor Jacqueline Faubert acknowledged how important outside festivals and events, such as this hockey tournament, are to the community and to the local businesses. It also ties into the Kincardine Business Improvement Area (BIA)'s goal to promote a four-seasons vitality for Kincardine, not just the summer tourist traffic. "This is a great opportunity to showcase women's hockey and promote it here in Kincardine," added deputy mayor Anne Eadie. "The first time organizing a new event, you need all the support you can get, and the money is coming back to the Davidson Centre." Councillor Kenneth Craig agreed the event is a great idea, but he was reluctant to cover the ice rental costs. "It's basically us paying the operating costs and receiving the money back as capital, that's the net result," he said. "There's no benefit to the municipality to do this." Howald said the municipality benefits from the tourism dollars that will flow into Kincardine over the weekend. Mayor Larry Kraemer said the event will raise more money to donate to the new gymnasium addition project, than is being asked to cover ice rental.
|
 "Filling
the Davidson Centre to the rafters is good for us," he said, "and the
spin-off benefits for the community and local businesses are very real.
When volunteers want to help the municipality, we should encourage that
behaviour." Councillor Maureen Couture said that the municipality's standard policy is not to waive fees for anything, but a group can apply for a community grant. "This event is promoting women's hockey and raising money for the Davidson Centre," said councillor Ron Coristine. "What's not to like?" "Let's do it," said Eadie. "It's a great event and we should support it." "There is no question it's a great event," said Craig. "My only question is are we going to pay for the ice time or is the organizing committee paying for it?" "This group has spent a lot of time and effort organizing this event which will bring money into our municipality, and we're arguing over $2,000?" asked Coristine. "I say we put our stamp of approval on this gift and I don't care how we pay for it." The committee agreed to forgive the fees in order to bring some great women's hockey to Kincardine. Later, in council session, final approval was given to cover the cost of the ice rental fees for this event. For further information, check out the event poster, click here Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
|
||||
|
 for
world news,
books, sports, movies ...Wednesday, September 07, 2011 |
