Councillors, residents push back against proposed Thunder Bay outdoor rink cuts

Thunder Bay city councillors and residents are pushing back against an administration proposal to close 31 of the northwestern Ontario city's 39 outdoor rinks.

The proposal was brought forward earlier this summer. Council has not made a final decision; the matter is expected to be discussed in detail during the 2024 municipal budget process.

If approved, the city would close all but eight of its outdoor rinks (under the proposal, North End Park, West End Park, Carrick Park, and Marina Park on the north side, and Northwood Playfield, Dease Park, Vickers Park Trail, and West Thunder Park on the south side would remain open).

A city review shows many of the rinks are underutilized and the closures would save the city $365,000 per year.

However, the proposal is receiving plenty of pushback. A public survey conducted in August showed 93 per cent of the 4,763 respondents are not in favour of the closures, saying the rinks provide important recreational space during Thunder Bay winters.

"This happens every year, where we tell administration that we want this $2.2 million, or whatever the amount was ... cut from the budget, and out comes these mom and apple pie issues that nobody is going to support," at-large Coun. Trevor Giertuga said. "I don't know why they do it.

"They don't bring forward any cuts to administration staffing levels or anything like that," he said. "It's so obvious that no one on this council will support cutting 31 rinks. This is for our children, our community, recreation and getting kids out there.

"I just found it completely ridiculous."

Giertuga said it's possible some rinks will be cut based on dropping usage levels, but "to completely chop the program is just, it's ridiculous. So it won't be getting my