Q: What are the specific issues with the ice?
A: The City has not provided an official report, however it is clear from looking at the ice surface that there are areas of cracking on the ice sheet, and surface freezing issues.
Q: At what point is the club expecting a more detailed update from the city?
A: We were told to expect a full report on the issues on February 25. Nothing was received, despite a follow-up. The Board again asked for the update on February 26th , and received a reply that the installation was on track for a date to be confirmed by the end of the day on Feb 26th. We have since been notified that the installation will be deemed by the City to be complete on Saturday, March 1. Curling with NOT resume until we have received an outside opinion on the safety of the ice.
Q: Why did it take a full day between the club being notified of the most recent delay, and the club sharing this delay with the membership?
A: Various levels of City staff are involved in the decision-making and EYCC staff and Board members are not a part of these discussions. The Club and Board aims to communicate facts rather than conjecture or assumptions, and this takes time to assess and agree on a course of action. The Board is also made up of volunteers who are not always immediately available to respond, especially during business hours.
Q: Will minutes from the weekly Special Board meetings be available to the club membership?
A: All approved Board meeting minutes are available to members on the website.
Q: Who are the outside ice technicians? Does the city recognize their authority and expertise?
A: The curling community is tight-knit and many experienced ice technicians from many other clubs have offered to help. To date, ice techs and club managers from Tam Heather, Milton, Brantford, and Royals have provided their input; all at the request of the club. The club has also repeatedly made offers to the City to bring in highly experienced ice techs through Curling Ontario’s ice team. The City decides whether to accept any recommendations or not.
Q: When you say a favourable safety report is needed before returning to the ice, do you mean from the outside technicians, or the city, or both?
A: Safety is the overarching consideration for the City and the Board, however there is no measurable way to determine what is ‘safe’ ice. The City will notify us when their staff considers the ice to be acceptable. However, the Board believes it is important that we make our own determination based on the assessments of multiple qualified ice technicians. This applies to safety for our members, and for the curling stones. As one of the largest financial assets of the Club meant to last for the next 35 years or more, it is critical that we do not risk damaging our curling stones by using them on an ice surface that is not appropriate.
Q: Why did the board unilaterally make an ultimatum to the city and threaten to cancel the season without any input from club members? What decision-making criteria supported the deadline?
A: Many competing factors were considered including the potential for continual delays and lack of a clear timeline, continued uncertainty for members, the potential safety concerns for members, conditions for the curling rocks, potential for ongoing issues with the ice, member sentiment, financial impact on the club, staff and kitchen to name a few.
Q: Does the board believe threatening will make the City more likely to complete the work safely and successfully?
A: The Board carefully considers decisions and acts in the best interest of the club. We are hopeful that this approach will have some impact.
Q: A previous email mentioned an extension to the season. Was this dismissed by the City?
A: The City has not responded to our request about the possibility of maintaining the ice later than the planned season. The survey of members’ preferences issued earlier in the month showed that slightly more than half of members would not want to play beyond the planned season.
Q: Which City staff has the club been in contact with? Which politicians? How regularly? What type of response have you been receiving?
A: The Board and Club manager are in regular contact with various levels of City staff responsible for maintaining the ice shed, the overall facility, and with Parks and Recreation staff. Some on a daily basis, as they visit the club often. Others are weekly via email or when they visit the club to supervise the ice staff. Councilors Paula Fletcher, Brad Bradford, and MPP Mary Margaret McMahon have also been kept up to date as new information becomes available. EYCC is one facility of hundreds the City manages. The Board believes it is applying as much pressure as possible, however we cannot control how the City reacts.
This matter was elevated by the Club and Board beyond the facility supervisors and managers, to very senior levels of City directors and managers early in the process. Since the middle of January, the Board’s regular point of contact has been the Director of Community Recreation, a much higher level within the City than we have historically had access to.
Q: When will the board deliver an action plan for members to have their say?
A: The EYCC Advocacy committee which consists of Board members, staff and member volunteers is working on a communication plan. Details to come as soon as they are available.
Q: How often will the club commit to sharing additional information?
A: We have provided weekly updates and will update more frequently as factual information becomes available.
Q: Which "additional developments" would be significant enough to communicate with members?
A: Any concrete information that the City provides on the condition of the ice, the status of the installation, issues encountered, or noteworthy dates will be communicated. In a nutshell, any information the City provides will be shared.
