Kimberley Minor Hockey is getting some assistance from the City in a couple of ways.
Firstly two tournaments — the Kimberley Minor Hockey Novice Dynamiters tournament this coming weekend and the Kimberley Old Nitro’s Hockey Tournament on February 14 and 15 — will receive 185 and 100 two for one pool passes.
Council agreed that these passes were a gesture of goodwill and attracting visitors to the Aquatic Centre was good advertising, although it was noted that the majority of these passes are not used when handed out.
The second gift from the City is a little larger After a plea from Councillor Albert Hoglund Council voted to cover all ice time (a $4000 in-kind value) for the upcoming Pee Wee Tier 4 championships in March.
In a memo Manager of Parks and Recreation Dave Clarke informed Council that the City had offered a 50 per cent reduction in ice fees, which had been agreed upon by Minor Hockey but Hoglund argued for a 100 per cent reduction.
Hoglund argued that the economic benefit of the tournament — a once in 20 years event he said — would prove worth it.
Coun. Kent Goodwin did have some concerns about the way the proposal was brought forward as an independent grant request. The City is in the midst of trying to prepare a policy for these grant requests. However, Goodwin said he was inclined to support the request.