'Major for the community': Frontenac region reopens its ice rink
The Frontenac Community Arena, located near Verona, just north of Kingston, has undergone a major transformation.
On Friday, it readied to reopen to the public.
For more than 40 years, the single pad arena has served the communities of Central and South Frontenac. In 2019, the decision was made to suddenly close the rink, because of aging equipment.
Arena Manager Tim Laprade says after two years, those renovations have been completed and now the rink is ready to reopen.
"It’s major. It’s really major for the community," he explains. "I think of the little kids coming here now. They don’t remember this arena when it was new. So now it’s brand new. Everything is fresh, it’s exciting, it’s brighter."
New major upgrades include tearing up the floors, putting in a new refrigeration system, and adding in new boards and glass.
"The typical life expectancy of an arena floor is about 20-25 years," explains Laprade. "We were lucky to get over 40 years with the old system so the new system should see us through to the next 20 or 30 years."
The $1.3 million project has been funded by all three levels of government.
The facility hosts everything from community skates to more competitive hockey games.
Central Frontenac Councillor Brent Cameron, calls the arena important to the community.
"I learned to skate here growing up. My children learned to skate here, this arena has had an impact on families for generations," he explains. "It’s important for us to build a quality of life in this community. We care about it If we want people to pursue their dreams, we want to give them an opportunity to pursue them locally."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.