Town seeks new tenants for Civic Centre, updates arena rules

By Ian MacKay

The town is looking for tenants to replace Kid Kare in the civic centre, even though the vacated space will need renovations.

Councillors also passed an amendment to the town’s arena policy, spelling out the punishment for people disobeying rules there, after some were caught using hockey sticks and pucks during public skating.

At the civic centre, a room near the gym of the former high school has been returned to a classroom that a seniors’ art group and a support group could use, recreation director Kelli Emmons said during the Oct. 20 council meeting.

“It needs a little TLC,” Emmons said, noting that anybody who needs a meeting room for short periods could use it.

Expensive work must be done for several rooms that the daycare service used before they can be rented to anyone who needs exclusive use of them, she said.

“We need a vision of what could be happening there,” councillor Jan Coffey-Olson said.

Amanda Bors, the chief administrative assistant, said that many people want to rent something larger than the former classrooms but not as large as the Elks Hall. Another location the size of the civic centre’s Rose Room, which is often booked, would help, Bors said.

“The roof is good; our structure is good,” councillor Greg Carlson said. “If there’s a great opportunity for two big things going in there or 10 little ones, let’s find them.”

Despite continuing regular activities by occupants such as Service Canada, Rivers West, the fitness centre, the gymnastics club, and the English as a Second Language program, there’s room for many more, Emmons said.

Also, councillors agreed to add a line to descriptions of violence in the department’s zero-tolerance policy.

“Not abiding by the rules and regulations of the town facility” joins 10 other descriptions, such as hitting people and making racial or ethnic slurs.

“The addition makes it very clear,” Emmons said. “If you’re not going to follow the rules, here’s what’s going to happen.”

The punishment for a first offence under the policy is a one-month ban from the arena. A second instance draws a one-year ban.

On the first day the AGT Centre was open for public skating and parents-and-tots skating, some people had sticks and pucks on the ice, inhibiting those with small children, Emmons said. The hockey equipment is clearly forbidden at such times.

“That Monday, I had three people get in touch with me about it,” Emmons said. She went to the arena and made the offenders stop using the gear.

“The most disappointing part” was that after she left, “parents were handing [sticks and pucks] back to their kids on the ice,” Bors said.

However, the arena has the Live Barn television feed. “So I went home and I could watch,” Emmons said. “I know exactly who it was. They may think they’re being sneaky, but there’s no way to be sneaky anymore.”

Councillors also heard a pitch from Rosetown Curling Club officials and saw a letter from the Rosetown Golf Club, both seeking financial contributions toward capital projects. Members agreed to consider the proposals when they make up the 2026 municipal budget.

They also agreed to a revenue-sharing plan for a new video game in the AGT Centre.

“There were quite a few kids; I had to wait my turn,” Mayor Trevor Hay said, describing himself as a “diehard video-game player from the ’80s.”