A petition to allow parents to help their young children put on hockey gear in the dressing rooms and allowing for spectators in Okotoks arenas has been stopped as the parties work to find an amicable solution.
Okotoks Coun. Tanya Thorn said adjustments to COVID-19 guidelines at recreation facilities in order to assist the public if needed are being studied.
“For example for 8-and-under in terms of hockey, they (players) need extra help, so we are trying to adapt to how to do that," Thorn said. “OMHA (Okotoks Minor Hockey Association) and the Town have been trying to look at what are the options to allow more parental involvement, they are still working out what those details are. That conversation is currently happening.”
An Okotoks parent started a petition last week stating COVID-19 restrictions of parents not being allowed to assist their young children in the dressing room or to be spectators should be lifted.
“If protocols are reasonable (i.e. stay six feet apart, wear masks, sanitize in and out, no loitering in the lobby, sit six feet apart on the bleachers on designated "X's" and limit the number of spectators per player) then there should be no reason we cannot both assist our children in getting their skates on/off and watch them play,” the petition stated.
There were 1,273 signatures before it was closed early this week.
The petition was shut down because discussion between OMHA and the Town to find a solution has begun.
At present, hockey players must come to the arena in hockey gear and either put their skates on in the dressing room or walk in with skate guards.
Parents are not allowed assist their children in the dressing room. However, coaches are allowed to assist with putting on a players’ equipment.
Spectators are not allowed to watch practices.
“The primary focus has been to maximize rink space, pool space for kids to have activities to ensure kids are getting the opportunity to be active,” Thorn said. “With the guidelines that are out there, it requires us to have a certain level of cleaning, maintenance and others.
“We have poured the resources into ensuring we can maximize that space (for participants).”
The rules have been in place for the pool, gymnasium and other facilities since the Okotoks Recreation Centre opened in July.
The issue came more to the forefront with the start of hockey.
“The goal should be how do we keep our kids active, how do we keep our kids’ safe and make sure people are comfortable with the rules,” Thorn said.
One of the solutions being bandied about for September is moving all youth eight and under to the Pason arenas to allow some parental involvement as this single-use facility has fewer users.
As for spectators, it’s on the table, but at this point it is a low priority, she said.
Alberta Health Services has been set to a maximum of 100 people for a recreation facility, such as an arena, if physical distance requirements can be met.
The Town also has budgetary concerns in regards to spectators.
She said it would cost the Town an additional $170,000 in its budget to clean after every event for a new set of spectators.
She estimated at present, about 55 to 60 per cent of the recreation facilities are covered by user fees and the remainder by ratepayers.
Thorn said there has been some discussion of parents volunteering to clean after a practice. However, issues such as liability would have to be dealt with before that proceeds.
Thorn said not having spectators in arenas due to COVID-19 guidelines is common in Alberta right now, particularly in smaller communities.
In a letter to parents on Aug. 17, the Okotoks Minor Hockey Association executive stated: “The Town is working with us, OMHA and OOAA (Okotoks Oilers Athletic Association) as we start our hockey programs to see if we could allow a select number of volunteers in the room to tie skates. Unfortunately, those volunteers won’t be allowed to watch.”
Thorn said the key is to have all parties work together to find a solution.
