Leisure Rink Pilot Project

 With the ever skyrocketing Hydro costs and ice plant efficiency, Southdale Community Centre has made a decision, in consultation with the city, to keep the ice out of the leisure rink for the 2018-19 season. This will allow us to gauge the cost of running the pleasure rink in conjunction with the functionality of the ice plant on the two large rinks for the prime season. The results will be reviewed in Spring 2019, along with a decision regarding future seasons. There is expected to be no disruption to our Learn to Skate programs and it is anticipated that additional public skating time will be allocated on a full size rink to help accommodate the loss.

The space will be used as a fitness facility, as it currently is in the off season, and be able to host many groups of all ages for training, exercise, warm-ups and meditation.

Response re Leisure Rink Announcement

In the days of social media, the ability to properly disperse information is hindered and with the lack of opportunity for a proper announcement, it is completely understandable for the community to not comprehend the reasoning behind a hard decision.

First off, there is not one person on the Board of Directors that doesn't understand the value and unique gem of our leisure rink as many outlined in their comments.  We had to review the proposal from management very carefully and when our obligation is to look at both sides of the equation, as well as the population of the community as a whole, we need to set aside our personal circumstances.  It was also a time sensitive issue.

Southdale has yet to experience one full season of our ice plant running at full capacity.  Many have seen the effects of this, including ice conditions and the inability to turn on the spectator heaters in the East (aka cold) Rink.  The leisure rink  shows as a small area but with the distance from the ice plant, as well as an abundance of west-facing windows that bring in the afternoon sun, the exact implications on the ice plant are unknown.  This is also part of the equation for fact finding, as well as the Hydro expense numbers.  We cannot work on assumptions and this is the only way to know for sure.  The idea of installing the ice for half of the season was deemed unsuitable due to the cost involved for water and cooling for only three months of use, and also cuts our ability to get proper information in half.

In terms of financial hardship, it is no secret that almost every community centres in Winnipeg is facing new challenges of keeping their facilities running at the same capacity and in some cases, even maintaining what they have.  Southdale prides itself on maintaining a facility the community can be proud of, and administration fees are a large part of this.  Contrary to some beliefs, the levels of government do not filter money into the community centres unless it is through grants for specific projects or renovations.  Was finances a part of the decision?  Yes.  But more so to get the facts gathered so we can make appropriate decisions moving forward.

We continue to work hard to look at future projects and expansions to accommodate the demands that continue to well exceed our ability to accommodate.  This is a step to show that we can use our existing space, but at a cost to one of our most prized amenities and lobby for a larger facility.  In the interim, the space will be used by a very large population of our community, including the newly amalgamated Southdale Seniors programing which will be using the facility for yoga and exercise programs daily.  We hope to work with all sports to help introduce the aspect of fitness to our young athletes and also have options for adults.  The meeting room and MPR can not house all of these programs and the gymnasium is operating at full capacity as well.  Stay tuned as we prepare for more announcements regarding programming options for all ages.

In absence of the leisure rink, public skating times will be added throughout the week during the season and we will maintain our two public skate times on the weekends, with accommodation for an area for less experienced skaters

This is a lot of information and even more was discussed, including current safety and supervision issues and membership options.  We can only hope that this makes the decision easier to understand and confirm that this is expected to be short term at this point in time.  Our strong hope is to make the announcement of the return of the leisure rink for October 2019.

 

 Southdale President / Tamara Bauknecht 

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 Please note the Refund Policy has changed.

Southdale Laker Administration Fee

$30 Laker Admin Fees are assigned per participant for each registered activity and may be reduced for sports/programming with a minimal registration fee.  The Laker Admin Fee is also applicable to participants in amalgamated sport associations or those entering a try out process for elite teams.  Laker Admin Fees are used for the maintenance of SRA facilities and are not a direct proceed to the registered activity.

Late Fees

$50 Late Fee is automatically generated for registrations received after the registration period closes. See below for closing dates as they differ between sports and programs. We will not waive late fees.

All fees must be paid within 7 days of the registration period closure.  Any fees not paid by this time will result in a late fee being applied.  Payment not received within 14 days will result in withdrawal from the activity.

Refund Policy (Please note that our Policy has been updated as of June 12, 2017to be more flexible)

Laker Administration Fees, Late Fees are non-refundable.

Request to cancel a registration within the registration period will result in full refund of the sport/program registration fees.

Request to cancel a registration within 14 days of the registration period closure will result in a 75% refund of the sport/program registration fees.

Request to cancel a registration after 14 days post registration period closure or at the commencement of te session will result in no refund

Returned cheques

All cheques returned by the bank will be subject to a $35.00 fee.