'Immense contribution': Newmarket honours community rink volunteer

Newmarket resident Chris Howie has spent a decade on cold winter nights and mornings working to keep the Lions Park Community Rink open.

Howie has been a mainstay at the popular rink, putting in thousands of hours to keep the rink going. Community members enjoy the outdoor rink experience, especially with ice time limited at many of the municipality's indoor rinks. 

Now, the municipality is recognizing the need for the rink for the community and plans to take over much of its maintenance by using new technology to make it easier — and letting Howie stay home in the warmth more.

“It’s been a journey for me,” Howie told council Nov. 11 during a moment recognizing him and his efforts toward the rink, as well as collecting donations for the Newmarket Food Pantry from skaters. “There’s some nights I have to go at midnight, 2 a.m. … It has been a battle. So this is definitely a relief for me. I said several times, if I don’t come home, you’ll probably find me in the middle of the ice.” 

The Town of Newmarket is planning to take over the maintenance of the rink starting this season. Rather than just rely on the elements, the town plans to use a refrigerated rink system with refrigerated mats that can better hold under above zero-degree temperatures.

The staff report said that should help the rink stand up with the warmer temperatures experienced in recent winters, which have been a challenge for Howie and his efforts to keep the rink going. The plan for this is to be a pilot program, further evaluated after this season.

“Given the environmental factors, and the demand for recreational ice use, this pilot program provides an excellent opportunity to enhance a service in a cost effective and sustainable manner,” the staff report said.

The report notes that recreational ice has declined in the community with the decommissioning of the Hollingsworth Arena. Other outdoor community rink locations have similarly been challenged by erratic weather conditions, making them difficult for volunteers to maintain on their own, the report said.

“This has reduced the amount of ice availability for recreational use, particularly recreational-based hockey. Lions Park has filled a vital need in providing the space for recreational hockey to occur,” the report said.

Town council members heaped praise on Howie for his efforts to keep the Lions Park rink going over the years.

“I walk my dog there almost every day and see the enormous hours, unprecedented hours. I’m not sure you’ll see too many volunteers put in those kinds of hours,” Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said. “You see dozens and dozens of kids every day, having fun, playing hockey or just skating, enjoying themselves.

“It’s an immense contribution that is almost impossible to measure,” Taylor added. “I think the best way to measure, I know you do, is in the smile of the kids.”