By Martin Martinson

City of North Battleford thanks free skate sponsors

Dec 5, 2018 | 1:00 PM

The City of North Battleford is offering their free skating program once again this season, and held a public thank-you for their sponsors who make the free skate opportunities possible for the community.

Siobhan Gormley, community programmer and booking manager for the city of North Battleford spoke to the importance of the local business’ contributions, allowing not just hundreds, but thousands of local people of all ages to take part, and get engaged in the community through the free skating events.

“This sponsorship the service clubs give to leisure services and the city of North Battleford is huge,” she said. “Every year there’s over 150 hours of free ice time provided because of the donation of these service clubs, and this year over 3,000 children and adults will have participated in the free sessions, so it’s very valuable to our community.”

Gormley also added the willingness of local businesses to sponsor this event year-over-year has allowed the free skates to gain traction amongst local residents.

“People are very aware of our public skating times and preschool, senior skate, that kind of thing, so every year the numbers increase. We really rely on the donations from the Service Club, so we thank them very much for their continued support.”

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North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater talked about the community rink being more than just a place to skate, but also a place to meet with neighbors and friends.

“Our arenas are community centres. That’s where people come together, and where they congregate,” he said. “To have the opportunity for families to come and enjoy free public skating in our amazing arenas is tremendous, and it’s only possible because of the non-profit and charitable organizations that are raising money and then dedicating resources to that, and they need to be commended and recognized for that commitment.”

Skating times:

Public Skating is offered at the Civic Centre on Saturday afternoons from 12:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

Three sessions a week of preschool and senior skating are offered Wednesdays from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. at the Civic Centre and 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. at the Don Ross Arena.

During holidays and school breaks additional public skating times are added to the schedule, including a few sessions of family shinny.

The following is a list of local businesses thanked by the city for their contributions to the free skate opportunities in North Battleford:

• Bonaventure Lions Club

• North Battleford Lions Club

• Kiwanis Club of the Battlefords

• North Battleford Kinsmen Club

• The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #70

• North West Hockey Development

• Rotary Club of the Battlefords

• North Battleford Elks Club

• St. Josephs Knights of Columbus #7336

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1