The City of Sarnia is ready to reopen arenas for regular ice season programming.
Recreation Coordinator Krissy Glavin said the city is very excited to welcome back arena users.
"I think we have a lot of people who have been waiting a long time to return to some sort of normalcy and get back into our facilities," she said. "Lots of groups are excited to be returning this fall."
Regular ice season users include minor hockey leagues, the GOJHL's Sarnia Legionnaires, the OHL's Sarnia Sting, Skate Sarnia, and other recreational groups. Glavin said the majority of available ice time has been booked for the fall.
Arena users will be provided with COVID-19 operating standards ahead of their return to the rink. Glavin said in accordance to the province's Stage Three reopening plan, modifications have been made to capacity limits.
"Spectator capacities are reduced to meet the standard of 50 per cent capacity and those standards have been laid out by the size of the spectators space per rink," she said. Spectator capacity by rink can be found below.
Arenas will allow for up to 40 participants on ice but dressing rooms will be limited to 36 spaces for regular ice rentals.
The provincial government announced a vaccine passport system last week which will come into effect on September 22. According to the directive, Ontarians 12 and over will be required to show proof of vaccination in order to attend recreational facilities with the exception of youth recreational sport.
Glavin said the city will need to review the recent provincial guidelines.
"We will be reviewing that over the next couple of weeks and I'm sure we will have more details to report once we've had the opportunity to do that," she said.
Progressive Auto Sales Arena
Rinks 1 and 2 will operate under summer hours until September 7. At which time, operating hours will be Monday-Sunday from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Spectator capacity for rink 1 is 1,000 and 70 for rink 2.
Sarnia Arena - September 7
The area will operate Monday-Friday from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. and on Saturday-Sunday from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Spectator capacity is 1,000.
Clearwater Arena - September 13
Both ice pads will be ready for use and will operate Monday-Friday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Spectator capacity for the blue rink is 150 and 70 for the red rink.