Happy Tuesday, Squamish.
Here's what you need to know this Sept. 2 evening.
The District says the Brennan Park Recreation Centre ice arena is temporarily closed as of today as a safety precaution.
As part of the ongoing renovation work, the removal of a wall that separated the ice rink from outside heat and humidity resulted in “higher than anticipated levels of heat and humidity within the arena, causing unsafe surface conditions on the ice,” says a media release by the District. All programming and public use has been cancelled until further notice.
“Staff are working diligently towards a solution, and we are hopeful that we can reopen within a few days; however, the duration of the closure cannot be determined today due to uncertainty surrounding equipment procurement timelines.”
The District says it will provide another update on Wednesday.
This closure comes at an unfortunate time for local families, as the Aquatic Centre is also closed as it is undergoing its annual maintenance and renovation from Sept. 3 to Oct. 17.
“We understand the impacts that unexpected closures have on user groups and the broader community, which is why these decisions are only made with the utmost caution,” said Mayor Armand Hurford, in the release. “Our community’s safety is paramount, and we are working hard to find the best solution to this unfortunate situation. The renovation work has experienced some setbacks at times due to the age of Brennan Park Recreation Centre, but our progress remains on track as we make up for these minor delays. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the arena as soon as possible.”
The District said that its facilities department is currently working to source high-capacity industrial dehumidifiers to reduce the arena’s humidity back to the required level.
“Once humidity levels are reduced, staff will be able to repair the damaged ice and return its surface to safe conditions. In order to acquire a long-term solution, staff are currently working to negotiate changes in the renovation schedule to reinstate the missing wall that separates the ice rink from the remainder of the building as soon as possible. Conditions are also expected to improve once the pool is drained for annual maintenance beginning tomorrow.”
Once the humidity in the ice rink reaches the desired operating level, the arena will reopen to the public.
Go to squamish.ca/rec for updates.
Tree removal at Mt. Garibaldi Cemetery
Municipal crews are conducting tree removal work at Mt. Garibaldi Cemetery until 5 p.m., Sept. 3.
The District says a portion of the southern end of the cemetery is closed to the public.
"We wish to remind visitors to the cemetery that continued construction activities and noise will be experienced while work on the Mt. Garibaldi Cemetery is underway," the District said.
The work is part of a larger expansion of the property required because the cemetery was reaching capacity.
Once complete in 2026, the cemetery will offer a green burial area and a scattering garden, in addition to its current offerings.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
The District reminds locals that Squamish DOX Recycling, located at 40446 Government Road, is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The recycle hub accepts a variety of recyclable materials, including glass, flexible plastics, foam packaging, paper and cardboard, containers (plastic, metal, and paper).
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