BC~ SPORT BC SPEED SKATING ~ CANADIAN ~ INSTITUT CANADA. May 4th, Prince George. season use. The British. club is grow. similar success.

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1 BC~ SPEED SKATING British Columbia Speed Skating Association PO Box 2023 Station A, Abbotsford BC V2T 3T8 Tel Fa, May 4th, 2017 PARTNERS City of Prince Georgee Prince George, BC V2L 3V9 ~ CANADIAN ~ INSTITUT SPORT CAHADIEN INSTITUTE OU SPORT viasp RT UHll!S-4 0LUt,hll la SPORT BC 0 TRUE I SPO RT SPO RT PUR CANADA Re: Prince George submission to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund This letter is to support the City of Prince George s application to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund to refrigerate the Outdoor Ice Oval in Prince George which will enable all- of the Outdoor Ice Oval will greatly enhance the recreation infrastructure of Prince George and surrounding communities. It will provide numerous low-cost opportunities for the youth and general population of the entire region accesss to a healthy outdoor recreational facility. BCSSA sees this facility providing numerous opportunities forr the Prince George Blizzards Speed Skating club which was first formed over 40 years ago and recognized as a major season use. The British Columbia Speed Skating Association (BCSSA) recognizes that the refrigeration contributorr to the Associations long term goals and objectives.. These include summer training opportunities for our clubs across the region and the general population, recognizing speed skating is a Sport for Life for all participants. As a refrigerated facility, it will build on the tremendous success and legacy of the 2015 Canada Winterr Games. For BCSSA, it will provide additional opportunities for the club and City to bid to host regional, Provincial, Western Canadian and National competitions. The joint medium and long terms goals of both the Association and the Prince George Blizzards Speed Skating club is grow the awareness of our sport and increase specific membership in our sport. The history of the use of the 2011 Halifax refrigerated outdoor Oval far exceeded expectations and we are confident with the history of outdoor participation of the region s population, we are fully confident thee Outdoor Ice Oval proposed will experience similar success. Presently BCSSA has one facility the Pomeroy Centre in Fort St John where we can provide training and competitive opportunities forr our 400m skaters. As the major centree in the region, Prince George is well situated to attract skaters from throughoutt BC and Western Canada to participate in both summer and winter training/competitive activities. Our skaters, coaches, parents and volunteers now only have options to go to Fort St John or Calgary and many see these options very limiting.

2 BC~ SPEED SKATING British Columbia Speed Skating Association PO Box 2023 Station A, Abbotsford BC V2T 3T8 Tel Fa, PARTNERS ~ CANADIAN ~ INSTITUT SPORT CAHADIEN INSTITUTE OU SPORT viasp RT UHll!S-4 0LUt,hll la SPORT BC 0 TRUE I SPO RT SPO RT PUR The Prince George club has long been known throughout BC, Western Canada and Nationally, within our sport, as being superior in hosting competitions and training activities. It is not unreasonable to assume that, with a refrigerated Outdoor Ice Oval, Provincial Championships, Regional Championships and National Championships will be hosted by the local club and the City of Prince George with fulll endorsementt of BCSSA. BCSSA is fully prepared to assist, if required, thee local club and the City of Prince George in providing innovative uses of the refrigerated Outdoor Ice Ovall to maximize usage and provide a healthy environment for all the local and regional populous. On behalf of the Board of Directors of BCSSA, we are very pleased to offer our full support for this exciting initiative. Regards, Ted Houghton Executive Director BC Speed Skating Association CANADA

3 P.O. Box 237. STN A., TH AVE, PRINCE GEORGE, BC. V2L 3L0 May 3, 2017 City of Prince George Prince George, BC. V2L 3V9 Re: Prince George submission to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund This letter is to support the City of Prince George s application to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund to refrigerate the Outdoor Ice Oval in Prince George, which will also enable for all season use. The project includes a refrigeration plant and concrete surface that will greatly enhance use of the facility by lengthening the skating season and limiting mid season closures, and providing an all season surface to make better use of this outdoor recreation facility. In partnership with the Outdoor Ice Oval Society of Prince George, this project will also ensure consistent, reliable ice thereby enabling economic development opportunities through hosting of Provincial and National level speed skating meets. The Outdoor Ice Oval contributes to the health and well being of community members in Prince George and surrounding communities by providing access to inexpensive outdoor recreation opportunities, currently limited to winter. The Outdoor Ice Oval Society, in partnership with the City of Prince George, has been providing outdoor skating on an official 400m oval for years. In 2015, the Canada Winter Games brought a tremendous legacy to the oval in the form of two buildings, one used to house icemaking equipment, and the other a public change facility. This has greatly improved working conditions for the volunteer icemakers, and greatly enhanced the public s skating experience. Usage of the oval has been growing. On weekends hundreds of skaters use the facility, use by school groups is on the rise, learn to skate programs are gaining in popularity, and the oval is an important venue in the popular Prince George Iceman a multisport winter triathlon. The oval provides a low cost, healthy outdoor recreational opportunity for all types and ages of skaters from toddlers to seniors. On behalf of Prince George Track and Field club, I would like to offer our enthusiastic support for the City of Prince George s application to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund to refrigerate the Outdoor Ice Oval. Our original training facility was a cinder track at a local high school. We put on some local track meets and the facility was used for the Corporate Cup competition, however, we were limited to those types of events given the facility we had. With a better facility, we could put on much bigger events.

4 P.O. Box 237. STN A., TH AVE, PRINCE GEORGE, BC. V2L 3L0 Our present facility, Masich Place Stadium, an all weather track was built for the 1990 summer games and continues to be a legacy of those games. In 1990, we hosted the BC Summer Games Track & Field Meet; in 1991, the BC Junior Development Championships; in 1994, the Pre Commonwealth Games Meet; in 1995, another World Class High Performance meet; in 1998, we hosted the Legion National Juvenile Championships the most successful in its 22 year history! 2001 was a great year, as wee hosted the BC Special Olympic Track & Field meet, and in 2002 the BC Senior Games Track & Field Meet. All thesee events happened because we had a facility to host them. In approximately threee weeks the stadium will begin a 4.2 million dollar upgrade making it one of the premier track facilities in the province. The city recently announced their successful bid for the 2020 summer games. This would not be possible without the upgrades to our facility this year. Without a refrigerated oval, the speed skating club will continue to lose major skating events like the 2015 winter games and BC outdoor championships the following year. Without a refrigerated oval, the likelihood that we might host another big outdoor skating event becomes unlikely given the vagaries of our winter weather. Prince George Track and Field Club recognizes that the refrigeration of the Outdoor Ice Oval will greatly enhance the recreation infrastructure of Prince George, the Regional District, and surrounding communities and encourages the review committee to approve the City s application for this community resource. Sincerely, Brian Martinson. President, Prince George Track and Field club.

5 May 8, 2017 City of Prince George Prince George, BC. V2L 3V9 Re: Prince George submission to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund This letter is to support the City of Prince George s application to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund to refrigerate the Outdoor Ice Oval in Prince George, which will also enable for all-season use. The project includes a refrigeration plant and concrete surface that will greatly enhance use of the facility by lengthening the skating season and limiting mid-season closures, and providing an all-season surface to make better use of this outdoor recreation facility. In partnership with the Outdoor Ice Oval Society of Prince George, this project will also ensure consistent, reliable ice thereby enabling economic development opportunities through hosting of Provincial and National level speed skating meets. The Outdoor Ice Oval contributes to the health and well-being of community members in Prince George and surrounding communities by providing access to inexpensive outdoor recreation opportunities, currently limited to winter. The Outdoor Ice Oval Society, in partnership with the City of Prince George, has been providing outdoor skating on an official 400m oval for years. In 2015, the Canada Winter Games brought a tremendous legacy to the oval in the form of two buildings, one used to house ice-making equipment, and the other a public change facility. This has greatly improved working conditions for the volunteer icemakers, and greatly enhanced the public s skating experience. Usage of the oval has been growing. On weekends hundreds of skaters use the facility, use by school groups is on the rise, learn to skate programs are gaining in popularity, and the oval is an important venue in the popular Prince George Iceman a multisport winter triathlon. The oval provides a low-cost, healthy outdoor recreational opportunity for all types and ages of skaters from toddlers to seniors. Personal Experience with the Ice Oval As a teacher at Ecole Lac des Bois, I brought my class (along with two others) to the ice oval this year, and speaking from personal experience, it seemed to be the most-loved outdoor experience we've had together as a class. The children loved the freedom of skating around and around the oval. It was perfect for skaters of all abilities, because skaters had so much space to be free, to skate, to play, and to rest. When we visited the oval we were lucky and had so much sunshine. I fully support the outdoor refrigeration of the Ice Oval, as I think the Oval is an integral part of our community, especially because we live in the north, and what better place to practice your skating skills, than outside on the oval. Our trip to the oval was almost cancelled due to warm weather and melting ice. I hope that in the future other children and classes won't have to miss out on experiences at the oval due to melting or warm temperatures. Please support the outdoor refrigeration of the Ice Oval. Ecole Lac des Bois recognizes that the refrigeration of the Outdoor Ice Oval will greatly enhance the recreation infrastructure of Prince George, the Regional District, and surrounding communities and

6 encourages the review committee to approve the City s application for this community resource. Yours truly, Sarah Murray Grade 1 Teacher Ecole Lac des Bois

7 N echako Lake Speed Skating Club May 5, 2017 City of Prince George Prince George, BC. V2L 3V9 Re: Prince George submission to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund This letter is to support the City of Prince George's application to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund to refrigerate the Outdoor Ice Oval in Prince George, which will also enable for allseason use. The project includes a refrigeration plant and concrete surface that will greatly enhance use of the facility by lengthening the skating season and limiting mid-season closures, and providing an all-season surface to make better use of this outdoor recreation facility. In partnership with the Outdoor Ice Oval Society of Prince George, this project will also ensure consistent, reliable ice thereby enabling economic development opportunities through hosting of Provincial and National level speed skating meets. The Outdoor Ice Oval contributes to the health and well-being of community members in Prince George and surrounding communities by providing access to inexpensive outdoor recreation opportunities, currently limited to winter. The Outdoor Ice Oval Society, in partnership with the City of Prince George, has been providing outdoor skating on an official 400m oval for years. In 2015, the Canada Winter Games brought a tremendous legacy to the oval in the form of two buildings, one used to house ice-making equipment, and the other a public change facility. This has greatly improved working conditions for the volunteer icemakers, and greatly enhanced the public's skating experience. Usage of the oval has been growing. On weekends hundreds of skaters use the facility, use by school groups is on the rise, learn to skate programs are gaining in popularity, and the oval is an important venue in the popular Prince George Iceman - a multisport winter triathlon. The oval provides a lowcost, healthy outdoor recreational opportunity for all types and ages of skaters from toddlers to seniors. The Nechako Lake Speed Skating Club is currently one of the largest in the province with 74 skaters registered last season. Our skaters regularly participate in long track events hosted by the Prince George Blizzard Speed Skating Club at the Outdoor Oval in Prince George, including but not limited to individual and club practices, competitions, and recreational events. Volunteers and officials from our club supported the Prince George Blizzard Speed Skating Club during the 2014 Canada Winter Games, and were closely involved in the planning for the 2016 Long Track Speed Skating Provincials, to be hosted in Prince George. Both these events, as you know, were moved to Ft St John's Pomeroy Center: Canada Winter Games mid-competition and the LT Provincials ahead of the event a cautionary move by the British Columbia Speed Skating Association. The executive at NLSSC certainly hopes that the city of Prince George will recognize the necessity of refrigeration in order for clubs in the area to continue to bid for provincial and national events. The cost of travel to

8 these events hosted in BC is largely borne by skaters in this area. This has become a significant issue as our club has continued to grow. Provincially, the sport of speed skating is at a low point (both short and long track), but despite logistical limitations, this is not the case in Central BC! We are fortunate to have a very strong representation of qualified coaches and competition officials. Our registration numbers are climbing. A high number of skaters from Prince George, Vanderhoof and Ft. St. James are repeat provincial and national medalists. We are represented on the national team with Speed Skating Canada: Jamie MacDonald from Ft. St. James, Alison Desmarais from Vanderhoof; these skaters are bringing world attention to Central BC. While our club infrastructure is strong (a product of years of investment), the weak link in moving forward and promoting the sport of long track speed skating for the next generation of skaters continues to be reliable ice. The Nechako Lake Speed Skating Club recognizes that the refrigeration of the Outdoor Ice Oval will greatly enhance the recreation infrastructure of Prince George, the Regional District, and surrounding communities, and encourages the review committee to approve the City's application for this community resource. Yo~ul~P-, J~ride NLSSC President

9 Williams Lake Speed Skating Assoc. 525 Proctor Street, Williams Lake BC V2G 4Jl Phone May 9, 2017 City of Prince George Prince George, BC. V2L 3V9 Re: Prince George submission to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund I am sending this letter in support of the City of Prince George s application to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund to refrigerate the Outdoor Ice Oval in Prince George, which will also enable for all season use. The project includes a refrigeration plant and concrete surface that will greatly enhance use of the facility by lengthening the skating season and limiting mid season closures, and providing an all season surface to make better use of this outdoor recreation facility. As the head coach of the Williams Lake Speed Skating club I was very excited to hear this proposal. We are a new club to speed skating and Prince George is the closest outdoor oval available to our skaters. As we develop our program we would like to incorporate training on long track ice and Prince George is an ideal location to do that because of it s proximity to our club. We have in the past couple years tried to incorporate long track training events/competitions in Prince George into our schedule but unfortunately have had to cancel due to weather issues affecting the track. Our beginner skater families were not willing to travel all the way to Fort St John to try out long track when events were moved from Prince George. This was the same for many families in the interior (Kamloops, Vernon) as well. Having refrigeration in the outdoor oval would allow us to regularly incorporate long track training opportunities into our program which would help to draw new skaters into our sport as long track appeals to many people over short track. Refrigeration of the outdoor oval would provide consistency of long track ice which would enable more local and national event hosting opportunities as the potential need to move venues due to weather would be eliminated. This would provide a positive economic impact on Prince George as well as on the sport of long track speed skating. Sincerely, Tania Lauren Head Coach Williams Lake Speed Skating Association

10 May 8, 2017 City of Prince George Prince George, BC. V2L 3V9 Re: Prince George submission to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund This letter is to support the City of Prince George's application to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund to refrigerate the Outdoor Ice Oval in Prince George. The project includes a refrigeration plant and concrete surface that will greatly enhance use of the facility by lengthening the skating season and limiting mid-season closures. This will also provide an all-season surface to make better use of this outdoor recreation facility. In partnership with the Outdoor Ice Oval Society of Prince George, this project will also ensure consistent, reliable ice thereby enabling economic development opportunities through hosting of Provincial and National level speed skating meets. The Outdoor Ice Oval contributes to the health and well-being of community members in Prince George and surrounding communities by providing access to inexpensive outdoor recreation opportunities, currently limited to winter. The Outdoor Ice Oval Society, in partnership with the City of Prince George, has been providing outdoor skating on the oval for many years. In 2015, the Canada Winter Games brought a tremendous legacy to the oval in the form of two buildings, one used to house ice-making equipment, and the other a public change facility. In addition to use of the facility by the Prince George Blizzard speed skating club, the oval is enjoyed by a large number of public skaters, including a growing number of school groups. The Outdoor Ice Oval is key to the success of an important Prince George sporting event. The Prince George Iceman is a unique multi-sport winter event, which includes crosscountry skiing at the Otway Nordic Centre, running, skating at the Outdoor Ice Oval and swimming at the Prince George Aquatic Centre. The 30 th Annual Prince George Iceman event was held February 12, This year there were 411 participants including 70 adult teams, 33 junior teams (including 17 school teams) and 48 soloists. The oldest competitor was 75 years of age and the youngest was 10 years of age. It truly is a community event! Safe quality ice at the Outdoor Ice Oval is critical for the Prince George Iceman, not only for race day, but also for the weeks leading up to the event to allow participants to train. Unfortunately, in recent years we have faced increasingly unpredictable weather, which has resulted in significant problems with ice quality. The skating portion of both the 2015 and 2016 events was cancelled due to ice quality. Such a cancellation is obviously extremely disappointing for event participants and has also made the planning of the event extremely difficult.

11 The Prince George Iceman Society recognizes that the refrigeration of the Outdoor Ice Oval will greatly enhance the recreation infrastructure of Prince George, the Regional District, and surrounding communities and encourages the review committee to approve the City's application for this community resource. Yours truly, Karen Seland Society Chair Prince George Iceman Society

12 May 2, 2017 Fort St. James Falcons Speed Skating Club Box 486 Fort St. James, BC. V0J1P0 To: City of Prince George Prince George, BC. V2L 3V9 Re: Prince George submission to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund Dear. This letter is regarding the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund and is in support of the City of Prince George s application to the 2017 Strategic Priorities Fund to refrigerate the Outdoor Ice Oval in Prince George, which will also enable for all season use. We understand that the project includes a refrigeration plant and concrete surface that will greatly enhance use of the facility by lengthening the skating season and limiting mid season closures, and providing an all season surface to make better use of this outdoor recreation facility. The proponents feel that, in partnership with the Outdoor Ice Oval Society of Prince George, this project will also ensure consistent, reliable ice thereby enabling economic development opportunities through hosting of Provincial and National level speed skating meets. The Fort St. James Falcons Speed Skating Club asserts that if Prince George could have an outdoor refrigerated oval it would become a hugely important venue for speed skating in British Columbia and even rival Fort St. John with its state of the art enclosed oval. The Fort St. John facility is wonderful but the distance away from so many clubs in BC limits its use. Canada only has refrigerated long track ice in Fort St. John, Calgary, Quebec City and a temporary facility in Halifax. Prince George is so central that skaters from north, south and west would come to skate if we could have reliable ice. It is likely that Prince George would host provincial championships half the years or more as well as Canada Games trials and even national meets like the Canadian Age Class championships and Canada Cups where top Canadian skaters are ranked. In addition, many club skaters would travel to Prince George for a few days of skating training. There are skating clubs that already do long track skating in Fort St. James, Vanderhoof, Dawson Creek, Williams Lake, Kamloops, Vernon and Kelowna in addition to ten in the lower Fraser Valley and Victoria that all travel to facilities. Prince George would become a favoured destination for long track skaters from central BC and the south. 1

13 In addition to enhancing competitive skating, season round ice would grow recreational skating for fun and exercise. Warmer winters as we have experienced in the last few decades will make outdoor skating even more enjoyable with not having to miss out on the best days because it gets too warm. And for your Iceman competition, reliable ice would only grow this fantastic event. The proposal to use a concrete surface is a great idea to promote summer activities and further contribute to the facility s usefulness. It seems likely that competitive roller blading could really expand as the basic technique is similar to speed skating where considerable coaching expertise already exists in the community. The Fort St. James Falcons Speed Skating Club recognizes that the refrigeration of the Outdoor Ice Oval will greatly enhance the recreation infrastructure of Prince George, the Regional District, and surrounding communities and encourages the review committee to approve the City s application for this community resource. Yours truly, Jen Duncan, Vice President, Fort St. James Falcons Speed Skating Club 2