Reference in the audio recording of the city council meeting of July 7, 2025.
Featured photo credit: Nordic
At the last city council meeting, citizens’ opinions differed. Several wondered whether the refrigerated skating rink was a good or bad idea. Mayor Mairesse pointed out that, with the master plan, everyone supports this skating rink project (28:26). Ms. Guerrish said that we should celebrate this donation and the future refrigerated skating rink. We have problems, and we will find solutions. Ms. Guerrish sees the donation as an incredible gift.
What are the issues surrounding the refrigerated ice rink?
The only issue is relocating the courts, otherwise the ice rink cannot be built. It is the ice rink and tennis courts that will ensure that we don’t miss out on the season’s activities. According to studies carried out by the municipality, the refrigerated ice rink would be built at Pleasant View Beach. More specifically, where the tennis courts are located. Some citizens are concerned about the space on this site and the impact of a refrigerated ice rink on the landscape. However, Ms. Gurrish points out that a refrigerated ice rink at Pleasant View Beach will not be cramped at all. There is plenty of space.
Why citizens have had little information about the refrigerated ice rink project
According to the mayor, studies are underway and things are changing a lot. The municipality is working very hard to find solutions. According to the mayor, once we have confirmation from the engineers, we will make a presentation on the next steps of the project and the timeline.
Will people from the Township of Hatley be able to access the refrigerated ice rink?
We have sent an invitation to the Township of Hatley. Their current mayor has decided to terminate this agreement. This is unfortunate, as we consider the citizens of the Township to be members of our family. They have put up a wall, and I am not a fan of this wall.
Is it possible to purchase land in the Township of Hatley to install the refrigerated skating rink?
Some citizens are proposing to purchase land in the Township of Hatley. However, neither the mayor nor the family that made the donation wants the refrigerated skating rink to be located outside of North Hatley. Ms. Guerrish states that she wants to do everything possible to keep the skating rink in North Hatley.
Will the skating rink be built at Parc des Rivières?
The plan was to build the refrigerated skating rink at Parc des Rivières. However, the land is contaminated and located in a flood zone. It is a former municipal landfill site and, as you will have noticed, it is on the riverbank. Ms. Guerrish points out that the Pleasant View Beach site is very well suited for the project. According to Ms. Guerrish, it is possible to install tennis courts at Parc des Rivières. Studies are currently underway. However, we must keep the soccer field for our children.
Could citizens block the construction of this ice rink?
Ms. Guerrish states that there will be no referendum. If the project makes sense, it will go ahead.
Figures for the refrigerated ice rink in North Hatley
Audio recording of the city council meeting of July 7, 2025
1 500 000$
Corresponds to the Pollock family’s donation to build the refrigerated skating rink and rebuild the tennis courts if the refrigerated skating rink replaces them at Pleasant View Beach.
800 000$
The cost of solidifying the soil in Rivières Park. The soil is contaminated and located in a flood zone. This is where we initially planned to install the refrigerated ice rink. The soil in Rivières Park is fill dirt. Studies have been conducted to solidify the soil in Rivières Park. Engineers cannot guarantee that it would work. No guarantee is possible.
7200
Space required in square feet for the new refrigerated ice rink. That is, 120 feet x 60 feet.
46 000 000$
Future ice rink that could be built in Magog, according to Ms. Guerrish.
675
Number of residents in the village of North Hatley. For now, this refrigerated skating rink project seems to be intended primarily for the citizens of North Hatley. Ms. Guerrish points out that the current mayor of Hatley Township has put up a wall, and she doesn’t like walls.
95
Number of children who are citizens of North Hatley (0-14 years old) according to the village’s sociodemographics. Mayor Guerrish also points out that the refrigerated skating rink will keep our children active during the winter.
1925$
Investment per citizen of North Hatley for the construction of the refrigerated skating rink, considering that $200,000 will be used for the construction of tennis courts. Obviously, this is a donation.
150 000$
Estimated operating costs for the Sherbrooke refrigerated ice rink in 2025. The costs were $130,000 in 2018. According to the mayor of North Hatley, studies conducted by the municipality reveal that the operating costs of the future refrigerated ice rink are far from reaching $100,000 per year.
148$
Cost per citizen for maintaining the refrigerated ice rink if operating costs are $100,000 per season.
20
Number of days the current North Hatley skating rink is open during the winter.
30 000$
The operating costs of the current ice rink at Parc des Rivières.
1500$
Daily maintenance costs for the non-refrigerated ice rink if we pay $30,000 for 20 days.
44$
Cost per citizen per season for maintenance of the current non-refrigerated skating rink.
??? $
What are the costs of the time invested in managing the construction of the refrigerated ice rink?
The mayor, elected officials, inspectors, general manager, and municipal employees devote a large part of their time to preparing for the construction of this refrigerated ice rink.
Does anyone measure the time invested? Does anyone know how to measure this? How much does it cost the municipality of North Hatley? Obviously, to find out, you have to measure it. Obviously, the municipality of North Hatley’s time is invested in the refrigerated skating rink, and that time cannot be spent elsewhere. As they say, when you invest time in a project, you can’t invest it elsewhere.
Summary of the City Council meeting of July 7, 2025.
- According to the mayor, there is a lot of excitement surrounding this ice rink.
- The Pollock family offered the same donation for the refrigerated skating rink 30 years ago, and the municipality refused, worried that it would go wrong. We may be afraid of our own shadows, but this will extend the skating season. It will keep the people of North Hatley active.
- A very generous donation, I think it’s “I have no words,” I think the donation should be welcomed and embraced. It should be celebrated. There are problems surrounding the project, but there are always solutions to achieve the best results.
- We have to find a place for the tennis courts, otherwise there won’t be a refrigerated ice rink.
- There will definitely be tennis courts.
- The citizens of North Hatley are more passionate about hockey than tennis.
- The municipality is currently investing a lot of effort into finding an ideal location for the refrigerated ice rink and relocating the tennis courts.
- A presentation will be made to citizens once the studies have been completed and the project is ready with its timeline.
- The baseball field donated by the Bond family (difficult to hear in the audio), no structures can be built on this site.
- The Pleasant View beach lot is larger than necessary.
- If the community does not support the project, will the municipality withdraw? The only reason to withdraw would be if no location could be found for the tennis courts and the refrigerated skating rink.
- It is not possible to set up the ice rink at the school or in the parking lot (the area is too small) and the ground cannot support it.
- We will move the planted trees or tennis courts. We will not halt a project such as the refrigerated ice rink for such a project.
- Even in the parking lot on Capelton, the ground cannot support the refrigerated ice rink. The riverbed originally reached this location.
- The project will go ahead if it makes sense. Studies are underway and everything will be presented shortly.
- Other municipalities are drooling over our refrigerated ice rink project, according to Ms. Guerrish.
- It won’t be just anything that gets built at Pleasant View Beach, and the same goes for the tennis courts.
