By Cheryl Jahn

Ice oval could go cold

Feb 3, 2025 | 11:39 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – A long-time dream of the Prince George Ice Oval Society is one step closer to reality.

The ice oval was moved to its current location in 2007 and usage has fluctuated since, with the oval only open for 27 days last years.

And that is the crux of why the Society presented to Council. Refrigeration.

“Weather has been a challenge, especially in recent years,” noted Society President, Dr. Kathy Lewis, who also said that the ice oval is able to host provincial and national speed skating events, but the weather is too much of a wild card for event organizers to consider Prince George.

Case in point, Prince George hosted the Canada Winter Games in 2015, including the ice oval as a venue for speed skating. However, the February weather was remarkably warm and the events had to be moved to Fort St. John, which has an indoor ice oval.

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Council has approved the City working with the Society to facilitate a comprehensive plan to look at the potential costs of installing refrigeration and, should that happen, the operational impacts.

According to the Society’s presentation, there are two options: refrigeration in concrete, which is the most costly, or in sand zinc gravel, which is the cheaper option.

“Let’s explore all the options,” stated Mayor Simon Yu, adding refrigeration could potentially turn the oval into a year round facility.

Now word on when that work will be undertaken.