Wiikwemkoong Arena needs new roof, usage halted

WIIKWEMKOONG—Until needed renovations are completed on the Wiikwemkoong arena, community groups like the minor hockey association are renting out ice time at the J.H. Burt Memorial Arena in Mindemoya.

Shane Cooper, arena manager of the Wiikwemkoong Recreation and Cultural Centre explained this past Monday, “Basically, the main thing is that the roof leaks on the arena. The roof is aged, and this is a problem that we have been dealing with for some time, and have had to cancel events because of this. There are solar panels that were added on to the roof that adds to wear on it, and insulation that has expired.”

He said, “if we don’t do this work now we won’t have nice ice for this season. It is better late than never. When we first looked at the condition of the roof there  was a lot more to it than we initially thought. And when the building codes have to match the inspections it is something that has to be carried out.”