MOOSE JAW — Using metal cleats or spikes, drones, remote-controlled equipment or foam dart guns within all city arenas is now prohibited, just some changes to the arena usage policy.
The community services department presented an updated policy during city council’s May 12 regular meeting, with council unanimously approving the document.
Council last updated the policy in November 2024, when it changed the dates of operation for the arena ice schedule. Meanwhile, council received an amended policy because city hall reviewed the document recently to update the season dates, scheduling and user responsibilities.
Some changes the department made to the policy included:
- Replacing all references to the parks and recreation department with the community services department
- Including baseball and softball as activities allowed on the arena sport court floor between April and August
- If required for scheduling, planning or registration purposes, the department may now confirm special events or specific bookings earlier than June 1 at the user’s request
- User groups must now sign the venue rental agreement by Sept. 15, indicating the ice allocation they want for the season and the terms and conditions of building rentals
- In 2026, user groups will not be scheduled at the Kinsmen Arena on Good Friday, while they will be scheduled during Good Friday at Pla-Mor Palace, Truth and Reconciliation Day, Thanksgiving Day, Family Day and Victoria Day
- Groups can return spring ice with 15 days’ notice due to unknown playoff schedules
- Weekday rush ice times at the Kinsmen Arena will now end at 4:15 p.m. to allow for better scheduling and flood times
- The city is now recommending that all user groups wear a helmet on the ice
- Spitting is now prohibited in the dressing rooms and on the sport court, while users must wear clean shoes on the court
- Participants are now prohibited from entering the ice or sport court surface when the arena lights are off
- Several activities or items are now banned from the arenas, including the use of white hockey pucks, batting activities using unregulated balls, batting balls toward the roof or lights, metal cleats or spikes on the sport court, painting any lines or markers on the sport court, using drones, remoted-controlled equipment or foam dart guns and hitting golf balls
- Alcohol and illegal drug use are now prohibited in lobbies and meeting rooms
Also, the Kinsmen Arena ice will start Sept. 8 and end on March 15, 2026, the Bert Hunt Arena ice will start on Sept. 26 and end on April 12, 2026, the Wally Boschuk Arena ice will start on Oct. 14 and end of April 12, 2026 and the Kinsmen Arena sport court will start April 1, 2026 and end on Aug. 14, 2026.
The report added that city hall expects to have a 65-per-cent cost recovery rate from the arenas.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, May 26.
