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Cheapskates can afford these sessions

Anniversary of Fuller Lake Arena in Chemainus celebrated with 50-year-old prices
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Fuller Lake Arena’s parking lot was frequently packed with cars during the early days for many events, including high school graduations. (Photo submitted)

Cheap skates are back.

In commemoration of Fuller Lake Arena’s 50th anniversary, 50-year-old prices are being charged for some upcoming public skating sessions.

The price is certainly right for three public skates on one Sunday during each of the next three months. The sessions are on Sept. 23, Oct. 14 and Nov. 18 from 3:15-4 p.m.

It’ll cost a whopping 60 cents for adults to attend, 35 cents for youth and students, 25 cents for children and 15 cents for pre-schoolers. Ah, remember the days.

Skate rentals will be going for just five cents during those days.

There’s also free skates on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 2-3:15 p.m. and 5:30-6:45 p.m. Past and present skating club members have ice time reserved for them from 3:30-4:15 p.m.

There’s also a welcome event for the third year of the Canadian Tire First Shift program at Fuller Lake, happening Sept. 29 at 2 p.m.

The First Shift program is designed to ensure a positive experience for families that are new to hockey by offering a program that is accessible, affordable, safe and, most importantly, fun.

“We want families to experience the game at its best — to understand why so many Canadians feel an inherent love for the sport and to stimulate a desire for continued participation,” states the program’s website. “We want to take away any intimidation as it relates to equipment requirements, and/or rules of the game, remove potential safety concerns and, most importantly, provide an experience that is memorable and fun.”

For a registration fee of $199, participants receive head-to-toe Bauer equipment, the previously mentioned welcome event, equipment fitting demonstration and expert fit session and equipment distribution plus one one-hour on-ice session per week for six weeks.

Following the initial six-week on-ice trial, families have the opportunity to participate in a transition program hosted by the local minor hockey association. Details vary slightly from each location and program, but the parameters of every offering will fall in line with the key principles of the Canadian Tire First Shift. The Hockey Canada on-ice curriculum is progressive, moving from a learn to play through the fundamentals of skating and hockey skills, on to a three-on-three playing environment.



Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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