With the puzzle of the cancelled Recreation Agreement between Arnprior and McNab-Braeside still lying scattered on the floor, the hidden pieces of the jigsaw are now coming to the fore- and one of those is the impact on the Arnprior-McNab Ringette Association (AMRA).
A delegation of AMRA members addressed Arnprior Council Monday.
Krys Rousselle, Lisa Belton and Jillian Lotan stressed that the current situation is among the biggest challenges the group has faced since its 1983 formation.
While Ringettes has seen steady growth in popularity in the community over the last decade, that’s all at risk with the seemingly exhorbetant out-of-town increases being considered by the host community.
Twenty-eight percent of the players live within Town boundaries, with the remainder hailing from elsewhere.
The Ringette Association says with costs rising, membership is likely to decline.
While Town Council, to a person, support the Ringette Association, Mayor Lisa McGee notes its dilemma is that Town residents, as things stand, are subsidizing out-of-community participation of seventy-two percent when one combines McNab-Braeside’s membership with those living in other area municipalities.
Recreation Director Graeme Ivory is tasked with reporting back to Council on possible compromise remedies, while AMRA is polling its membership via a “notice of intent” as it waits further clarification on what the Town plans to charge.
By Rick Stow
