Cape Breton rink could soon become North America's first female-only arena
Cape Breton rink could soon become North America's first female-only arena
A rink in Cape Breton may soon become North America's first female-only arena.
On Thursday, the Nova Scotia government announced it's spending $18.3 million on 14 community rinks across the province that are in need of critical upgrades.
That includes $8.2 million towards the Canada Games Complex at Cape Breton University (CBU) in Sydney, N.S., for a dedicated hockey hub for women and girls.
The arena has been closed for years due to the need for major upgrades, including new ice-making refrigeration equipment and a new Zamboni.
Last year, the facility was entered into the annual Kraft Hockeyville competition -- an annual contest that awards the first-place winner with $250,000 for arena upgrades. It ended up winning the grand prize, opening the door for a brighter future for the rink.
The president of the Cape Breton Blizzard organization, Christina Lamey, says Thursday's announcement is a game changer for girls and women's hockey on the island.
"We still have some more ways to go, but I think we have some great people in our corner with CBU's capital campaign and hopefully some federal government assistance as well," said Lamey.
Female hockey players in Cape Breton say they're happy with the news, adding that most times, their teams are left with few ice time options after the boys and men's teams get first picks.
"You never knew where your home games were going to be and your ice times were always switching. It will be better now," said Lorelai Sehl, a player for the Cape Breton Blizzard organization.
Samantha Morrison is the captain for Team Nova Scotia, which just achieved a history-making accomplishment after taking home silver at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
She says she knows first-hand the gender inequity that has existed in the game.
"It's kind of hard for girls not to have a set place, a set dressing room. You have to drag your gear everywhere, where guys nine times out of 10 had their own dressing room to hang [gear] up and let it dry," she said.
Lamey says there's no clear timeline yet on when the girls and women's hockey hub will become a reality.
As part of Thursday's announcement, the province says the Cape Breton County Arena in Sydney will receive $4.3 million of the funding for updates, including new washroom and change room facilities, and accessibility and energy efficient upgrades.
The Colchester Legion Stadium in Truro, N.S., is also benefiting from the funds. The facility will receive $1 million for repairs to reopen it after it was damaged by post-tropical storm Fiona.
"These upgrades will enhance the experience of every player and every family member who enjoys the rink. And it is a fantastic opportunity for more girls and women to play hockey," said Brian Comer, minister responsible for the Office of Addictions and Mental Health and MLA for Cape Breton East, on behalf of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage Minister Pat Dunn.
Other rinks receiving funding include:
Glooscap Rink in Canning will receive $2 million for structural rehabilitation
Sackville Arena in Lower Sackville is getting $630,000 for bleacher retrofitting
Chester Arena and Rink in Chester will get $500,000 for repairs
Trenton Rink in Trenton will receive $300,000 for new seating and upgrades
St. Francis Xavier University Rink in Antigonish will get $300,000 for ice plant
Shelburne County Arena in Shelburne is getting $260,000 for roof repairs
Queens Place Arena in Liverpool will receive $205,000 for a Zamboni
Pictou County Wellness Centre in Westville will get $200,000 for ice surface and dressing room upgrades
Antigonish Arena in Antigonish is getting $160,000 for heating and accessibility upgrades
Eskasoni Arena in Eskasoni will receive $150,000 for accessibility improvements
Bluenose Curling in New Glasgow will get $118,000 for upgrades and sprinkler system
For full coverage of Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated page.
Fires across the country are burning millions of hectares of land but what does that really look like? CTVNews.ca compared the blazes to some cities and lakes in the country showing just how big they have gotten.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents, according to an indictment unsealed Friday that alleges that he described a Pentagon 'plan of attack' and shared a classified map related to a military operation.
Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson shocked Britain on Friday by quitting as a lawmaker after being told he will be sanctioned for misleading Parliament.
Despite the alarming facts and figures, experts say Canada is far more reactive than it is proactive when it comes to wildfires and they’re calling for a national campaign on wildfire education to better prepare for the future.
Showers are predicted Saturday over the aggressive wildfire threatening Tumbler Ridge, but forecasters say thunderstorms could sweep through the parched region without bringing any rain.
Air Canada says it made a mistake in rejecting some compensation claims from the thousands of travellers affected by delayed flights due to computer malfunctions.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith named her new cabinet Friday, about two weeks after her United Conservative Party took the majority of seats in Alberta.
Montreal police (SPVM) stats for 2022 show that crime went up dramatically in 2022 and, taking COVID-19 pandemic numbers into account, violent crimes have been on the rise overall since 2017. In addition, motor vehicle thefts skyrocketed, having more than doubled since pre pandemic years.
A chain of illegal magic mushroom dispensaries in Ontario is determined to open a location in Montreal this summer despite the threat of a crackdown by Mayor Valerie Plante.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith named her new cabinet Friday, about two weeks after her United Conservative Party took the majority of seats in Alberta.
Poor air quality in Temiskaming Shores forced the hospital to cancel all surgeries Friday, and depending on the forest fire situation, it may have to cancel more procedures scheduled Monday.
A tenant displaced in the downtown Sudbury fire last month said her hotel is denying her request to move her room to a centralized location following an attempted break-in.
Winnipeg police say a woman is in hospital with severe injuries after she was allegedly stabbed by a man in what police describe as a completely random and unprovoked attack.
Hundreds of counter-protesters gathered near three schools in Ottawa's west end on Friday to take a stand against a B.C. man who is protesting what he calls "gender ideology."
The Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway in Ottawa's west end will be renamed Kichi Zībī Mīkan, if approved by the National Capital Commission's board of directors.
The head of Saskatoon’s chamber of commerce responding with frustration to the city’s announcement of a $75 million deficit over the next two years — and the tax hikes that will likely be needed to help makeup some of the the shortfall.
With the Bank of Canada (BoC) increasing its kay rate once again this week to 4.75 per cent, many people with fixed-rate mortgages are feeling anxious about renewing.
Wildfire officials are sending an additional 20 firefighters to help battle an out-of-control blaze that has burned more than two square kilometres of forest and cut off a major highway on Vancouver Island.
A vehicle detour route that is serving as a lifeline between eastern and western Vancouver Island amid a raging wildfire will be closed for much of the day Friday.
