COCHRANE— Starting today Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre will begin a cautious and phased reopening.
The first section of the sports centre to open will be the Cochrane Arena on Friday (June 12) as part of Stage 2 of the Alberta Economic Relaunch.
“Although we did not anticipate the pace of this announcement regarding recreation facilities and the related programs, this is obviously great news. Our main priority is to re-engage the facility in the most thoughtful manner with safety and social distancing an absolute priority,” said Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre CEO Blair Felesky in a press release. “Cochrane Arena will serve as a good test, allowing us to ensure we effectively monitor the activities and adjust our practices to be ready to re-open the entire operation.”
Felesky asked that the community be patient as the facility is cautiously and safely reopened.
“There is maintenance to complete, pools to refill, ice to install, supplies to be in place, not to mention staff to recall and retrain. It is crucial our members and guests feel safe and secure when we open our doors,” he said. “Over the coming days, we will unveil the roll-out plan and dates for all our amenities. We can’t wait to share our space with the community again."
The opening will take place under public health guidelines provided by the Government of Alberta.
The provincial government announced on Tuesday (June 9) Stage 2 of the Alberta Economic Relaunch would allow additional businesses and services to open their doors to the public as long as COVID-19 public health protocols are in place including two-metres of social distancing.
Stage 2 of the relaunch will now include indoor and outdoor recreation, fitness and sports centres, including gyms and swimming pools.
The facility has been closed to adhere to COVID-19 public health protocols, but the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre parking lot has played host to community events including the Cochrane Farmers’ Market and the Drive-in Movie Under the Stars hosted by the Young Professional Rotary Club of Cochrane.
“It has been fantastic to witness and be part of the energy in our parking lot during the events. It is clear our community is eager to come together, knowing things have changed. We all must do our part to keep each other safe, preventing the spread of the virus,” Felesky said.
