CENTRE WELLINGTON – Centre Wellington Council has approved its 2026 Ice and Facility Allocation Policies.
A report presented to council on Monday night says the Township’s original 2008 policy covered all recreation facilities, but staff found ice activities have very different scheduling needs and higher usage.
Adam Gilmore, Managing Director of Community Services, says to address these differences, the original policy has been divided into two related documents: the Ice Allocation Policy, which applies to ice pads, and the Recreation Facility Allocation Policy, which applies to non-ice facilities such as fields, halls, and gym floors.
The report said staff organized in-person meetings and invited both minor and major sports groups to provide input on the updated Ice and Recreation Facility Policies.
“Each organization also received an email with the policy that applied to them and was invited to provide additional feedback. The meetings were well received, and staff collected all comments and suggestions. One concern raised by ice user groups was the lack of available ice time, which limits their ability to expand their programs,” the report said.
After reviewing the feedback, staff updated both policies, and Gilmore says that in the policies, the township has prioritized allocations for tournaments, minor sports, major sports, township programs, adult senior nonprofit groups, and other users.
Councillor Jennifer Adams called the increased priority for youth groups a fantastic move.
Township staff says separating the policies allows each type of facility to be managed more effectively based on specific needs.
According to the report, the following amendments apply to both policies:
- Clear separation between ice facilities and other recreation facilities;
- Transition from technical formulas to a Standard of Play approach focused on fairness, transparency, and diversity, equity, and inclusion;
- Simplified, high-level policy structure with fewer rigid rules, allowing for increased administrative flexibility; and,
- Addition of a definitions section for clarity and consistency.
The following amendments apply to the Ice Allocation Policy only:
- Formal acknowledgement that ice demand exceeds available supply;
- Updated allocation criteria aligned with the 2025 Parks and Recreation Plan;
- Refined allocation schedules based on user feedback; and,
- Introduction of a Spring Ice Application Form to improve planning and transparency.
You can find the full report here.
