Rethinking Recreational Facilities in Ontario

More than half of Ontario's ice rinks and arenas are nearing the end of their lifecycle, requiring significant and expensive repairs or replacement. According to the Ontario Recreational Facilities Association, (or ORFA), the province's estimated 27 hundred arenas are in poor or failing condition. With many of them built more than 50 years ago, many of the province's arenas are facing closure and service reductions due to high repair costs, safety concerns, and lack of consistent funding.Terry Piche, Director of Training, Research and Development with ORFA says when the provincial government downloaded the management of recreational facilities onto the backs of municipal governments in the 1990's, it put real financial pressures on communities eager to maintain use by local hockey teams, community groups and other users. He says while he's happy to hear Highlands East is getting by keeping their rec facilities open and regularly maintained, the approach won't work forever.