PITT MEADOWS, BC – On August 3, 2020, Pitt Meadows Arena will reopen to organized groups for skills development and practice with reduced capacity and new safety protocols in place.
“We are looking forward to safely welcoming sports users back onto the ice,” said Mayor Bill Dingwall. “While athletes can’t yet participate in games, it’s important that they have an opportunity to practice and train.”
The focus will be on organized skill development. No games, scrimmages, drop-in hockey or skating will be allowed at this time.
In addition to extra cleaning and a number of proactive health and safety measures, users will be required to follow new guidelines and procedures that include:
- Athletes must come to the facility with the majority of their equipment already on. Dressing Rooms will not be in use other than to put skates on.
- Athletes must use their own pre-filled water bottles.
- Access to the building will only be permitted 15 minutes prior to the start of the activity. No early admittance allowed.
- Athletes will have 10 minutes from the end of their ice time to exit the arena.
- Visitors should sanitize hands when entering the facility.
- All visitors must adhere to physical distancing (6 feet or 2 metres) at all times. This includes players, coaches, parents and staff.
- Ice sessions will have limited participants and coaches.
- Shooting, passing, skating drills are permitted. No games or scrimmages.
- Spectators are not permitted; only one parent or guardian allowed in designated areas per athlete.
- Limited number of washroom users allowed at one time.
- The Lobby Area is restricted to flow through traffic only and spectators waiting for athletes are asked to wait in their vehicles.
- Anyone who is sick is asked to stay home.
“As the City continues to work on the reopening of facilities, we ask for the public to continue to follow guidelines and Provincial Health Orders to ensure everyone’s safety,” says Chief Administrative Officer Mark Roberts.
Reopening the Pitt Meadows Arena aligns with the BC Restart Plan. The non-profit organization ViaSport, which has led the process for reopening amateur sport across B.C., released Return to Sport Guidelines to help individual sports organizations create transitional plans for the safe return of their sport during COVID-19.
Arena ice times have been rebooked based on the original ice time summer schedule for returning groups with the exception of all special events. Due to COVID-19 building capacity restrictions, tournaments and special events will not be held this season.
Groups wishing to book ice times are asked to email info@pittmeadowsarena.com or call 604-460-1531. Prior to booking an ice time, groups must have a sport-specific COVID-19 Safety Plan that details precautions to be put in place to mitigate the risk of virus exposure or infection.
The City closed the Pitt Meadows Arena in March to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Staff continue to work on plans to safely reopen additional facilities.
The Pitt Meadows Arena is operated by Nustadia Recreation Inc. Visit pittmeadowsarena.com for more information.
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For more information please contact:
Carolyn Baldridge
Manager of Communications & Community Engagement
City of Pitt Meadows
cbaldridge@pittmeadows.ca