Currently the BTCA is looking into replacing the outdoor rink located next door to the community hall with a modern outdoor hockey rink. The rink is the last of two rinks that were built sometime in the 1950’s to 1960’s. For the next few decades the rinks saw tremendous use. In their heyday, the rinks were used by hundreds of community members and their children. There were community teams that used the ice to practice and hold league games. The basement of the community hall was even used for changing facilities and warming up. Over the last couple of decades, one of the original rinks was removed and only the one rink remains today.
Through a couple of volunteers, the ice is still flooded and maintained today. Unfortunately the rink is past its life expectancy. The boards are mostly all original and have not seen a lot of TLC over the last few decades. A large number are rotten and held together with failing bolts. The puck fencing is rusting and the lighting system is in need of some repairs. The worst part is the playing surface. The grading across the site is less than ideal. To build ice for the winter can take over a month if Mother Nature cooperates. This winter has been exceptionally bad. We have been pouring ice since November and we still don’t have enough ice yet to open the rink.
The grand vision for a new rink would potentially include the construction of a concrete base foundation, new dasher boards, player’s boxes, a proper winter hydrant service for ice flooding, a warm-up hut for changing and maybe even our own Zamboni! Other communities in Calgary such as Signal Hill, Douglasdale, Valley Ridge and Cranston already have a combination of these features.
All of this comes with a price tag of course, so the plan is to study the feasibility of all the options with a goal of constructing at least a concrete pad and new boards for the 2012/2013 winter. In 2011, the first steps were made by the BTCA . A storage shed was constructed, a new snow blower and sweeper purchased, and funding applied for and granted. Additional funding will be required though to help us meet our goal.
There’s an easy way to help us raise some of the needed funding. From January 12 to February 10, be sure to visit www.ourcommunitycheer.com and CHEER for the Banff Trail rink. The more cheers we get, the more likely it is that will be eligible for a private sector grant. It only takes a minute to set up a login ID and then you can CHEER for us!
For more information on the rink project please visit www.banfftrailrink.blogspot.com or contact the BTCA. We’d love to have some more volunteers from the community whether it’s helping flood the ice or applying for more funding.
by Peter Fahrni