A call for immediate repairs to keep the arena in operation
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following letter was read at the May 9 Central Manitoulin strategic planning meeting on behalf of the Mindemoya Arena Repair Committee and has been reprinted here at the committee’s request.
My name is Marie Ford, and I’m here speaking on behalf of the Mindemoya Arena Repair Committee — or MARC. We are a community-driven group of volunteers, parents, residents, and local organizers who came together to support and protect a facility we believe is essential to the heart and health of Central Manitoulin: the Mindemoya Arena.
Tonight, I want to speak directly to both the municipality and the consulting team undertaking this Recreation Infrastructure Master Plan. We understand the importance of long-term planning. We appreciate that a comprehensive feasibility study takes time, and that evaluating the broader recreational needs of the entire municipality is a complex task.
But while this process unfolds, we are urging one very clear, simple action: keep the Mindemoya Arena operational, fully maintained, and in use.
The arena’s west wall was declared structurally unsound earlier this year, and that decision — although necessary for public safety — led to the premature end of the Mindemoya Minor Hockey season. That disruption affected dozens of families, hundreds of volunteer hours, and a deeply rooted tradition of youth sport that brings our community together through winter. It further put an abrupt end to the roughly 215 students from Central Manitoulin Public School from walking to the arena several times a week to go skating. For some of those children that is their only opportunity to skate!
But what’s equally important to emphasize is that this arena is not just an ice pad. The Mindemoya Arena is a year-round facility. It’s a key venue for our summer events, including the Central Manitoulin Lions Homecoming Weekend and Manitoulin Ribfest, community celebrations, Special Olympics Ball tournaments, and the Pearson Cup Slo-Pitch Ball Tournament — one of the largest, most cherished annual events on Manitoulin Island.
And here is something that must be understood: if the Pearson Cup Slo-Pitch Tournament does not have access to the Mindemoya Arena for the Saturday night dance, we will not be able to continue with the tournament. That dance is the primary fundraiser that supports the entire week- end. Without it, the tournament simply isn’t financially viable. And this isn’t just about one event — it’s about all the summer activities that rely on this arena to succeed. Together, events like the Pearson Cup, Homecoming and Manitoulin Ribfest, and community celebrations bring an estimated 7,500 people into Central Manitoulin over the summer. That foot traffic fuels our local economy — restaurants, accommodations, retail — and reinforces the arena’s role as more than just a rink. It’s an engine of community vibrancy and economic activity. The MARC committee was formed not to point fingers or wait around. We acted. In just a matter of weeks, we’ve raised nearly $25,000 in local support. That includes events like the pancake supper, local sponsorships, and a generous $10,000 donation from Basil and Janice Panamick. And we’re just getting started.
This should be seen as a clear signal — from the community — that the arena matters. The people of Central Manitoulin are not sitting on the sidelines. We are contributing financially, volunteering our time, and showing that we want this facility preserved and used.
Yes, the future of recreation infrastructure will take planning. Yes, there are budget constraints and competing needs. But we must not let a long-term vision come at the cost of short-term collapse. Letting the Mindemoya Arena sit idle, or allowing its usability to lapse while decisions are being made, is not acceptable.
This is the only arena in the central region of the Island that can support full minor hockey programs. The smaller facility in Providence Bay — while appreciated — simply doesn’t meet regulation standards for league play. We risk losing participants, dividing teams, and turning families away from local sport.
The Mindemoya Arena is where kids lace up for the first time, where seniors gather to stay active, and where neighbours come together to celebrate everything from tournaments to fundraisers. It is a living, breathing part of this community — and it is working.
We respectfully call on Council and the consultants alike: support the immediate repairs, allow full year-round operations to resume, and keep this arena in the hands of the people who use it every day.
We are not just users of this facility. We are its stewards. Let’s fix the west wall now and work together on the rest — for the future, yes — but also for today.
Thank you.
