ATHABASCA — Even as the Alberta government announced it is loosening some COVID restrictions Jan. 18, some activities are still on hold until Jan. 21, like those at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex.
The board is considering removing the ice as it has started to become very costly to keep it in place with no body using it, said new Athabasca Regional Multiplex Society (ARMS) chair Travais Johnson at Athabasca County's Jan. 12 council meeting.
“We've had a few meetings ... with the new manager trying to iron out all the little glitches that come with having a new manager and with COVID; there's a few,” he said. “We had the discussion the other day about even taking the ice out. We decided to wait and make that decision (on Jan.) 21st to see what the province does with COVID and see if anything is extended or what the province does basically with the restrictions for COVID.”
Johnson, who became chair in December, noted that while the temperature of the ice was changed to lower costs the longer the ice goes unused the more it hurts the society to keep it in, adding that the next ARMS meeting is Jan. 25, after the government’s next review of restrictions Jan. 21.
"You have to start to weigh those odds and see whether it's worth keeping the ice open, or shutting it down, and trying something different by maybe having a floor hockey tournament or pickleball or something,” he said in an interview Jan. 12. “It all depends on what the province does.”
Johnson added that while the information surrounding COVID seems to change, the overarching theme is no one knows the long-term repercussions, so while some people want everything back to normal, governments at all levels are erring on the side of caution.
“What I've heard so far is that it is unknown the lasting effects of this or what the second round is going to be like, or what happens if you get sick again after you had COVID,” said Johnson. "And I feel sorry for anybody that's in the position that has to make those decisions, ourselves included when it comes to the Multiplex; it's not made lightly. I’d love to say let's open it up and have a dance and have a social gathering to ease your mind off of things, but we can't. We have to be diligent.”
