Unsupervised rinks irk Thunder Bay resident

Hundreds of Thunder Bay residents want the city to increase supervision at neighbourhood rinks next winter.

Barb Kukko, president of the North End Volunteer Recreation Association, circulated a petition after seeing the rinks in her area closed for 10 out of 19 days during the Christmas holidays.

"The kids, or whoever was skating, had brought flashlights there to put on the boards so they could see where to skate," Kukko said.

"Because there was no washroom facilities open, the back of the building was practically a urinal because, you know, what are you gonna do?"

There's obviously an unfair discrepencey with manpower ... Thunder Bay resident Barb Kukko

Kukko said her blood boiled when she saw three city workers on duty at the new Prince Arthur's Landing rink on a stat holiday.

"This happens all over the city," Kukko said. "There's obviously an unfair discrepancy with manpower at the Marina (rink site)."

She said she realizes it's unrealistic to staff every rink in town, but said she thought the city should keep some strategic ones open.

Councillor Andrew Foulds will present a resolution to council on Monday to ask for a report on ways to keep rink facilities open seven days a week.

Kukkos petition has 438 names signed to it.