Progressive Auto Sales Arena (BlackburnNews.com photo by Melanie Irwin)Progressive Auto Sales Arena (BlackburnNews.com photo by Melanie Irwin)
Sarnia

Sarnia council to consider arena, pool reopening plans Monday

Sarnia council will consider hiring plans Monday to help the city enter Stage 3 of Ontario's pandemic reopening.

Mayor Mike Bradley said lifeguards could be stationed at Canatara Beach and at Tecumseh Pool and the splash pad from August 1 to August 30.

Arenas could start reopening as early as August 4.

"The only reason we can do this, is because of the $2 million we cut," said Bradley. "We're in a position now to use some of those savings to start to try to return to some sort of normal activities in the city. But, this is going to be staged and it's going to take several months to do so, because it has to be done in a safe way health wise, for the public and for our staff and it also has to be done in a fiscally responsible way."

Rink 2 at Progressive Auto Sales Arena would be the first to reopen, followed by Rink 1, Clearwater Arena would reopen on September 14 and Sarnia Arena on September 21.

Mayor Bradley said city hall, public works and the Sarnia Transit office would also reopen.

"There will be some of the permanent vacant positions filled, there will be some seasonal and there will be some students hired. It won't be a large number, but it will help us operate the facilities that are being staged to open."

Bradley said the one facility that will not be opening for many months is the Strangway Centre, which offers programming to adults over 50, due to their heightened risk of contracting COVID-19.

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