SRD Helps the Hockey Community with Unforeseen Mechanical Issues in Port Alberni
SRD hosts Port Alberni Bulldogs vs Trail Smoke Eaters this Sunday November 17th at 2 pm.
Campbell River, B.C. – The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is assisting the hockey community with the unforeseen mechanical issues in Port Alberni by hosting the Port Alberni Bulldogs vs Trail Smoke Eaters game this Sunday November 17th at 2 pm.
The Port Alberni Bulldogs have been displaced from their arena due to a low-level ammonia leak that was discovered at the facility’s ice rink Sunday November 3rd. All programs and activities at the Port Alberni community venue have been cancelled due to the unforeseen mechanical issue that lost the ice surface. This British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) team was scheduled to host the Trail Smoke Eaters who are currently doing the circuit tour on Vancouver Island.
Due to the hosting of the Port Alberni Bulldogs game in the Rod Brind’Amour Arena, the SRD has cancelled this Sunday’s afternoon public skate and pond hockey on Arena #2 from 3:00 – 5:30 pm to offer ice availability to the Campbell River Minor Hockey Association. Strathcona Gardens staff are in communication with the CR Minor Hockey Association and are doing their best to reschedule ice time accordingly. The leisure ice surface however will remain open for drop-in skating only from 3:00 – 5:30 pm (pond hockey cancelled).
“By opening up ice availability on Arena 2, our hope is that it allows our local minor hockey scheduled games to be reshuffled in terms of times and not displaced all together” says Strathcona Gardens Facility Manager Koreen Gurak. “We fully understand the inconvenience to this schedule change, however all efforts and ability to support the hockey community on Vancouver Island is truly appreciated.”
The unfortunate situation that occurred in Port Alberni highlights the elevated awareness around ammonia refrigeration plants operating in arenas around BC. As of September 21, 2019, Strathcona Gardens became ammonia free by switching to a carbon dioxide refrigeration system with the support of federal gas tax funding.
With today’s concern for the environment, energy efficiency and safety, CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) is now recognized as a much superior option over other synthetic refrigerants for these purposes. CO2 is a natural, non-toxic, non-flammable with no-net greenhouse effect.
The switch out from an ammonia-based refrigeration system to a CO2 has made the Strathcona Gardens Recreation Complex the first facility in the province to make this conversion.
The Strathcona Regional District is a partnership of four electoral areas and five municipalities providing services to approximately 44,000 residents.
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Media contact:
Koreen Gurak, Facility Manager
Strathcona Gardens
250-830-6733 | kgurak@srd.ca