Our hats are off to the remarkable talent and outstanding effort on display at this weekendB次元官网网址檚 Canadian figure skating championships in Victoria.
The skaters and volunteers who make the event happen deserve kudos. Ironically, the very success of bringing the event here serves to highlight a serious shortcoming in Greater Victoria.
The region is hosting an event that will undoubtedly inspire young people to try and live out their own dreams of skating at the highest level. However, on a practical level, the region is failing miserably when it comes to providing enough ice time to meet the demand.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of kids out there want that challenge, they want that motivator to be the best that they can be,B次元官网网址� said Deena Beacom, director of the Racquet Club, home to VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 figure skating club. She has publicly lamented the stress that unfairly burdens local skaters who are struggling to find appropriate ice times.
With a growing population of more than 330,000, Greater Victoria is woefully under served by municipal ice rinks B次元官网网址� and still will be after a single sheet of ice comes online in LangfordB次元官网网址檚 City Centre Park later this year.
ItB次元官网网址檚 simple economics to think that if demand is there, the supply should follow.
But while itB次元官网网址檚 easy to suggest a private interest should invest in a commercial rink, as has been done in many other Canadian communities, thereB次元官网网址檚 little the general public can do to make this happen.
Another answer might lie in a survey of parks and recreation services currently being done by the regionB次元官网网址檚 largest municipality. Saanich is asking residents to suggest how they want to see taxpayer money spent as the municipality develops a master plan for the future.
This could be a perfect chance for Saanich to show leadership in the region and either work to facilitate a private development B次元官网网址� such as the multi-rink centres popular on the Lower Mainland. It comes down to ensuring opportunity B次元官网网址� the product of which is on display this weekend for all of us to take pride in.
