Dreading fall sports registration? There are ways P.E.I. families can get help with the costs

With many young people on P.E.I. gearing up for the start of fall and winter sports, some organizations are finding ways to help families out with some of the costs. 

Charlottetown Ringette started a gear library, where players can borrow equipment to use and return it at the end of the season. 

Dianna Mallard, the organization's communications director, said the group applied for a community support grant from Ringette Canada to fund the project. She said players can put in an application to borrow gear from the library. 

"We would place more priority on lower-income families, first-time players and Black, Indigenous, people of colour," Mallard said. "We really want to increase access and diversity within our association."

Al MacIsaac, a past president of Hockey P.E.I., said the cost of gear and registration fees can add up fast. 

"Are there parents and kids staying away from the game because of cost? Absolutely. There's no question," he said. 

Ice rentals on P.E.I. now average about $175 an hour, more than double what they were a decade ago, MacIsaac said. 

"At that time we were paying a rate of $85 an hour. And right now [for] $85 an hour they wouldn't unlock the rink for you."

There are other ways for parents to save on costs, he said. Many kids have benefited from the equipment donation bin at the Bell Aliant Centre in Charlottetown. 

Mallard said the KidSport grant throughout Sport P.E.I. is something families involved in the ringette group have used.

"It's been a great benefit to keep our players in our association," she said. 

A few years ago, Charlottetown Ringette froze registration fees. While the move impacted the group's bottom line, Mallard said the priority is keeping kids involved in the sport. 

"I think