Signs on the doors of the Saddledome, home of the Calgary Flames, are seen in Calgary on March 12, 2020. A fundraiser for hourly workers at the Scotiabank Saddledome has raised over $39,000 after the company that owns the Calgary Flames told hourly staff they wouldn't receive pay for lost shifts.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
March 15, 2020 - 8:00 PM
CALGARY - The Calgary Flames have decided to assist their part-time event staff who will be underemployed during the suspension of the NHL season.
The Flames made the announcement on Sunday — a day after it was made public in an email that Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation employees affected by a halt in operations at Scotiabank Saddledome were not going to receive pay for lost shifts.
President and CEO of Calgary Sports and Entertainment, John Bean, says in a statement that the organization will now be "adopting an income bridge support program for qualifying employees."
CSE is also the operator of the arena, which is owned by the City of Calgary.
Raymond Lau, a former employee at the Saddledome, started an online fundraiser to help offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on workers at the venue when he first heard CSE wouldn't be compensating staff. The campaign had raised over $60,000 as of Sunday afternoon.
Bean also says in the statement that CSE "obtained a number of additional pieces of information including communicating directly with many part-time employees," leading to the announced program.
Calgary Sports and Entertainment also owns the Western Hockey League's Hitmen and the National Lacrosse League's Roughnecks. Both of those leagues have also suspended their seasons.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2020