A slew of issues with turning Farlain Lake into an ice rink will prevent Tiny residents from having one more place to skate this winter.
“We investigated this issue with our insurance company and they indicated it is a possibility to do so,” township engineerinrg manager Jean-Francois Robitaille told councillors at a recent meeting.
"However, the township would have to fulfil a number of requirements, such as flooding, snow clearing, checking the ice thickness and posting procedures for when the surface is closed.”
That would require additional maintenance staff for the parks department, he added.
“In addition,” Robitaille said, “staff has to figure out logistics, such as lights, access by emergency services, parking, delineating a path for snowmobiles going through the lake and noise complaints since we do our flooding pretty early in the morning, and attracting tourists in the time of COVID.”
All of council backed staff’s recommendation to forget about converting Farlain Lake into an ice rink.
And they have support from some residents, too.
Connie Brock, an 18-year resident of the township, said, “Money could be spent better like paving roads that are still dirt roads.”
Cecilia Galveias said she could see the township’s reasoning: liability and hiring staff to monitor ice conditions.
"We used to live close to a lake and if residents wanted to go out and skate they would just shovel a small area or the teens would,” she said. “They'd bring down their own hockey nets to play hockey on the ice. With small children we prefer going to town-run rinks. It's a safer option for us.”
Vanessa Quesnel said she also agreed with the township.
“I think mental health is a huge priority right now and ensuring our elderly community is taken care of in the winter months,” she said. “We have plenty of ice rinks available in the vicinity. Living on Farlain Lake, we always shovel a fairly large area. Saves the town money and liability letting the residents do what they always have done.”
Back at council, Deputy Mayor Steffen Walma still wanted council and staff to look into some options going forward.
“I am curious about council's thoughts if this is something to look at in future,” he said. “I see this as a very cool option going forward. I know the rink in Orillia is very popular at Couchiching Park and there are other examples in municipalities of similar skating activities. I know New Tecumseth transforms their ball diamonds into skating rinks in the winter time. We know the community enjoys skating rinks and we should look into this in the future.”
Tim Leitch, director of public works and interim chief administrative officer, said staff could look at those options during budget deliberations next year.
But for now, residents around Farlain Lake will have to trek 1.5km to the Toanche Rink, which will be operational this year.
