Image Credit: Shutterstock

The City of Kamloops changed up its plans after initially ousting hockey teams and others from the Memorial Arena for two months.

Originally planning to remove the ice from the downtown arena to make way for the Scotties tournament Patch, the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association was blindsided when two months of games and practices were cancelled just weeks after booking the ice time.

The City will now host the beer garden next-door at the Kamloops Curling Club. 

Hockey association chair Nathan Bosa said he's "ecstatic" by the change of plans.

"Now I can relax knowing the kids will play," he told iNFOnews.ca.

Bosa confirmed after meeting with City staff the Kamloops Curling Club would be the next venue, and the City sent a media release confirming the curling club with be hosting the beer garden.

Yesterday, Oct. 24, the City's chief administrative officer told iNFOnews.ca Memorial Arena was booked for the Scotties tournament Patch months ago, but there was a communication breakdown among staff.

"From what I understand, yes, that was booked out (for the Scotties) but the person that works on the event side didn't get a hold of booking side," David Trawin said.

He didn't say exactly when the City allowed Curling Canada to book the Memorial Arena as a dry floor space, but the tournament's arrival in Kamloops was announced in January, much earlier than a hockey association would book its season.

"The City could have done better," Trawin said.

Nathan Bosa of the hockey association said its games and practices were booked earlier this month, only to get an email from City staff last week explaining all bookings were cancelled.

According to the email, there was no option to appeal the decision or replace the ice time elsewhere in the city because all other arenas were booked.

Bosa said he doesn't want to take time away from curlers or the event, but the loss felt unfair. He also wasn't sure why a nine-day event required the arena to be vacated for two months.

When Trawin spoke with iNFOnews.ca yesterday he wasn't sure why the arena needed to be closed for two months, but he said he would ask staff about the decision.

"Ultimately, we hear the concern," Nolan Thiessen of Curling Canada said. "Removing anyone's ability for youth sport for two months isn't something we want to do."

Thiessen, the executive director of marketing for the organization, said finding a location for the tournament beer garden is done on a case-by-case basis, but it's always included in the bidding process when cities are looking to host it.

"We are working with the City already to try to find solutions," he said.

He added that the Patch is more than just a "place to drink." It's open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for all ages during the tournament, so fans and curlers alike can meet and mingle. Depending on the city, they can be hosted in arenas or convention centres, he said, but it's up to the host city to find a suitable venue.

Arena user groups, including the minor hockey association, are already feeling the ice time pinch across the city even with Memorial Arena in use, Bosa said. On top of that, the arena hasn't been in use for two years due to COVID-19 and its use as a homeless shelter.

However, Bosa said he's looking forward to better communication with the City in the future.

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts will be hosted at the Sandman Centre in February for nine days, where the best female curlers in the country will compete for the national championship.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2022