STEPHEN RICCIO
PONTIAC Jan. 20, 2021
Despite the newest slate of COVID-19 restrictions, outdoor rinks have been open and are available for use in the Pontiac.
Provincially imposed guidelines require that those skating on rinks do so within their own household bubble, with total maximum numbers varying depending on the rink. An exception can be made for people who live alone to skate with one other person.
Beechgrove Rink, which is a community funded rink just off of Hwy. 148 near Quyon, is open for use for the first time in . . .
three years.
Lindsay Hamilton is involved in maintenance of the rink, and she explained how it took quite the community effort to collect funds and to have the rink set up for this winter. When the rink was last open in 2018, the boards were in poor shape and required replacing, and the rink faced challenges in affording insurance and taking care of hydro costs.
“This year, Mountainview [Turf] donated the time and materials and many of the guys worked on the rink, specifically Stephen Rusenstrom, to get the boards built,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton said that many community members donating to the cause will mean that the next couple years of costs will be taken care of.
As for skaters adapting to COVID, Hamilton said that people have been good at being able to police themselves to ensure social distancing. One of the rink’s volunteers has been shutting the lights off at 7:30 p.m., to accommodate the recently imposed curfew hours.
The outdoor rink in Campbell’s Bay, located on rue Patterson, has undergone some changes to keep up with restrictions.
“We split the rink in half to allow the boys to play with a hockey stick,” explained Mayor Maurice Beauregard. “They can’t play hockey but our understanding is they can still skate with their stick if they’re stickhandling, but they can’t play together. So to make it safe this week we’re going to split the rink in half with a rope and some barricades to allow always one side for skating and one side for the older kids to play around a bit more.”
Aside from that, Beauregard said that the shack where people would normally get changed must remain closed as it could end up becoming a hangout area. Benches have been added outside for putting skates on. He added that the limit of 25 people was still in place for the rink, in addition to the single bubble rule.
The Shawville rink, located between Lang and Queen Street, is also open to be used.
“It’s there to be used, but you’re supposed to stay in your social bubble to use it,” explained Mayor Sandra Murray. “So you could go with your wife and your kids, but we are not [going to be] policing it. We’re putting a sign up.”
Aside from Beechgrove Rink, the Municipality of Pontiac is also home to three rinks that are funded by the municipality: Davis Park rink, Luskville Recreation Park rink and Quyon Recreation Park rink.
The municipality has outlined rules for using its rinks, with skating and hockey allowed as long as it is within one bubble. No hockey games will be permitted, and the rinks will close at 7:30 p.m. The Luskville and Quyon Recreation Park rinks have a limit of 15 people allowed on the ice at one time while the Davis Park rink has a limit of nine people.
