Question #4: What is your stance on a proposed replacement for the Kinsmen Arena?
Dustin Brears
It is unfortunate that the Kinsmen Arena has not received the necessary fixes over the years to make it sustainable. I grew up playing hockey in that rink. I am not in favour of bulldozing an arena and building a new one to replace it, only to net out at the same two ice surfaces. The Kinsmen arena in its basic sense is a concrete and steel structure that in my opinion, could be stripped down to its bones and refurbished to a better, more sustainable design, at a fraction of the cost of new. If the citizens of Yorkton want a 3rd ice surface, and are willing to pay for it, then I would support a 3rd ice surface. Adding an ice surface to the Gallagher Centre would make a great facility even better. I am not in favour of spending a fortune to simply replace a building.
Ken Chyz
As I have stated before, I am a big proponent of recreational facilities. I feel that facilities like the Gallagher Centre, Deer Park Golf Course and Jubilee Park have the highest economic spin-off of any city facility.
I just feel that a replacement of the Kinsmen Arena is something our city cannot afford at this time. We need to make sure that the current Kinsmen Arena is brought up to standard and can be maintained to last for several more years.
There is a current levy in place that was used to pay for the Gallagher Centre improvements. That will expire after the 2020 year. Â
If we were to put those levy dollars into a special reserve fund with the understanding that this money should be used strictly for recreation facilities, it would give us a good start-up down the road for a future new facility connected to the current Gallagher Centre. Â
Dick DeRyk
As I stated in answer to your question about infrastructure, we can get the plans ready in case the province or feds come up with a funding program that will pay the vast majority of the cost. But everything else, including recreation facilities, is put on the back burner until we know the city’s long-term financial situation, and that won’t be for a year or more. Nor will I support using the city’s borrowing power for non-critical infrastructure. Two reasons for that: we need to keep funding in reserve for unforeseen situations like the two major floods we’ve had in the past 10 years, and I do not want to leave a large debt to future generations.
Doug Forster
The world as we know it has changed, even the experts have no idea where we will end up as this pandemic continues its attack, and it’s evident that the damage has already begun to affect small business. The city needs to embrace the importance of our business community and their contributions to Yorkton, and it starts with contracting local, and spending local to ensure that our Yorkton dollars stay at home. Spending at home can help our small business’s meet their payroll requirements to keep their employees working, earning, and in turn spending that money in Yorkton. When safe to do so, a well-placed campaign that promotes Yorkton’s business community, service groups, and Tourism, could encourage people from our extensive trading area and beyond to visit, stay, enjoy our events and spend, we have an amazing city and should share with the nation why Yorkton is the place where good things happen!
Randy Goulden
Yorkton is the hub in our East Central Saskatchewan, and council has been proactive in looking at what we need to do to ensure our recreation infrastructure helps us maintain our reputation as a great place to visit. That second ice surface is vital to our city, which is why we included the Kinsmen Arena in our asset management plan and have given this issue such careful consideration. With an estimated cost of more than $20 million, we will need to review the scope of this project and the projected lifespan of the Kinsmen Area before we decide how to move forward; to ensure the project meets both our financial and our infrastructure needs.
Quinn Haider
As principal I often meet with many families new to Yorkton. Many times they have shared that our job market and business opportunities are what originally attract them to consider moving here, but it is our family amenities and recreation facilities that finalize their decision. So, I am in favour of an eventual replacement for the Kinsmen Arena. While we will certainly have to take a much closer look at the proposed scale of the project, I know that two ice surfaces will be required to meet the needs of our user groups. Active engaged citizens are an important part of a healthy community. I believe that we need to ensure that we take the steps necessary to provide recreational opportunities. With an improved facility, the opportunity to host more tournaments or concerts in our city could exist. Such events would bring additional people, and their dollars, to Yorkton.
Cam Mehling
At the last Council Meeting that I attended, quotes for the construction of the new ice surface were presented. Based on three different proposals, the quotes came in around $15-20 million. My campaign is based around fiscal responsibility and I believe spending $20 million on an ice surface wouldn’t be fiscally responsible at this time. However, there are many questions to ask and explore. Can this price be brought down closer to $10 million? Is there an opportunity for this facility to generate more revenue to assist in paying for itself? What does the current Kinsmen Arena look like if $3 million was spent renovating the building and fixing the ice plant? Further exploration is required in order to find the best solution and provide a safe and adequate ice surface in Yorkton. I’m all for providing a safer, more reliable ice surface but executed in a fiscally responsible manner.
Lauretta Ritchie-McInnes
Our City has an infrastructure deficit which must be prioritized over recreational amenities. I realize the social value of the Kinsmen Arena but believe that all options need be explored before replacing the facility. With that said, if a sound business case was presented and if a solid return on investment could be realized for the City of Yorkton, I would propose a specific levy and put the question to people before proceeding with a replacement project.
Jordan Rosluk
My priorities are providing relief to business owners and home owners of Yorkton during these difficult times by being fiscally responsible. My stance on the Kinsmen arena and the proposed renovation of the Gallagher Center is that if elected I will not support this non-essential project at this time.
 The Yorkton Terriers have a $130,000 debt and they may or may not survive the coming years, and if we were to lose them that will free up ice time at the Gallagher Center. I also know people who drive to the outlining communities to rent ice space because it’s cheaper than renting in Yorkton. Simply put, a new ice arena and renovations of the Gallagher Center are not urgent, but what is more important is keeping businesses open, and people employed with homes to live in.
CV Sastry
I have heard from multiple families and organisations for the need of an additional space in Yorkton for other sports and activities, other than Gallagher. Raising my son in Yorkton, I personally believe that a community is only as good as its facilities. I don’t think we can stop looking at any facilities that encourage sports and recreation. This is what attracts families to our community along with our hospitals and schools. I am in favor of potential opportunity to invest in our youth with an additional hockey/figure skating facility, which could also hopefully cater to other sporting needs as well. I am also aware of the costs and will look into better options before I commit to this replacement during these economic times. If it is being tendered, accountability from the contractors will be a priority as cost overruns typically have hurt us in the past.
Terry Schneider
I understand the state of the existing Kinsmen Arena. It is a tired old building that has served the community well, but is clearly outdated and showing its age and now costing the City operational repair expenses. There is demand for ice time and ice availability needs to be maintained or expanded going forward.
An upgraded Gallagher Centre where:
* One Zamboni can serve two (and in the future three) ice surfaces
* One Ice Plant can be used to serve the same
Staff resources can be combined in one facility
* One set of utility bills can be managed
* Snow clearing can focus on one facility
* A community hub is expanded
* Makes solid operational sense
Busy Arenas in Yorkton equate to busy motels, restaurants and other tourism visitor services that are hurting and need a boost. That said, the design scope should be focused on basic measures that include structurally sound construction, public safety and functional use.
Scott Sharpe
I believe this is a decision that goes beyond the Kinsmen. People travel to our water park from the bigger cites all the time. They say we are lucky to have a facility like this. If the focus of this project is not to: a) have an amazing sports and rec facility in the city and b) create economic spin off through tourism than an amazing opportunity could be lost. With that said, the cost of this facility will be felt for quite some time so due diligence must be done on the research stage and a clear direction chosen by the people of Yorkton. This will ensure the facilities will be supported by the people of Yorkton.
Calvin Tokarchuk
Pre COVID, not only was I in favor of a new rink, I personally would love to see a twinned arena with a proper Catering Kitchen between them. It would be a building utilized for hockey 7-8 months of the year and could also be used for hosting events like Weddings, Grads, Conferences Etc.
We have needed more than two ice surfaces for many years, and the current Kinsmen’s best days are long past.
Unfortunately because of COVID, the gathering restrictions and restrictions implemented by Minor sports, negates the opportunity to create profit from a new building.
From a business perspective only, the city has major infrastructure needs in sewer and water that I feel would be higher on the priority list.
Chris Wyatt
I believe the Kinsmen arena should be built on the same site as the original. An important part of rebuilding the Kinsmen is to remember the contributions of the Kinsmen club to that building and incorporate that history into the new rink! Keep the original open until the new rink is built. Part of the new rink should be a lobby that is large enough to house the Yorkton Sports Hall of Fame so that our local sports heroes can be displayed proudly for all of the public to see. When the original Kinsmen arena is taken down, the space could be used for parking not only for the rink but for the college across the road or Century Field activity parking. With the money saved, the Gallagher Centre locker room renovations could finally begin.
Darcy Zaharia
I am a firm believer that amenities help draw people to our community.
The Gallagher Centre Renewal Project includes a new ice surface and many upgrades for a cost of approximately 22.1 million. The rink alone is approximately 13.7 million. Neither of these figures includes PST or associated interest charges. Â
The current Kinsmen Arena is structurally sound and has 10-15 plus years of life remaining as per adobt. This issue is replacing the current ice plant (1-1.5 mill) and retro-fitting the ice plant to work at the Kinsmen (another 1-1.5 million). Â
Currently, the Kinsmen Arena is a preferred option to most surrounding community ice surfaces.
My choice would be to invest money into the Kinsmen Arena. If Federal/Provincial grant money was received, I would revisit my stance.
I would recommend that the expiring $100 Gallagher Center levy be re-directed towards a recreational reserve for future amenity projects.
