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Battleford arena canteen gets a reduced rate due to COVID-19

The uncertainty about the upcoming hockey season at Battleford Arena was a hot topic at a meeting of Battleford town council Monday.
Town Hall

The uncertainty about the upcoming hockey season at Battleford Arena was a hot topic at a meeting of Battleford town council Monday.

In response to the situation, council decided on a reduced rate for a lease agreement with Wayne Warren to operate the canteen at Battleford Arena.

Council directed the mayor and chief administration officer to enter the lease agreement for 2020-21 at an initial rate of $250 a month not including GST.

This is a reduced rate from $525/month in the original agreement. The reason was COVID-19 restrictions directly affecting the canteen’s operations.

There is currently a 30-person maximum on ice per user group and a 30-spectator limit for practices, training and tryouts, and a 60-spectator limit for games and mini-leagues. There is provision for the town to be able to renegotiate the monthly rate back up if restrictions are lifted.

Council had decided in favor of entering the lease agreement at the previous council meeting, but a decision on the amount was deferred to Monday’s meeting to allow time for arena operating guidelines to be more firmly established.

Even now the situation remains up in the air, as hockey games are still on hold. Practices and tryouts have gone ahead, under tight restrictions.

Parks and recreation director Jordan Schectel told the council meeting that the Saskatchewan Hockey Association was still waiting for Sask. Health Association to approve their return to play document.

That would have a big impact on the canteen, but nobody had an idea when the document would be approved, he said.

Councillor Kevin Russell noted “everybody’s waiting on direction from Sask. Hockey and the Sask. Health Authority.” He said he gets asked “three or four times a day” on what’s going on.

Russell also noted Alberta and Manitoba hockey were opening back up again and expressed hope they would “progress with something” in Saskatchewan as well.