Accessibility upgrades for city’s arenas ‘appropriate’

NEWS — City council will be asked Tuesday to throw its support behind the sledge-hockey movement by fixing accessibility issues at its arenas.

Carolynn Boomer of PacificSport Interior said her organization has been asked about retrofitting the arenas.

“We wholeheartedly support this request, as this would include sport opportunities such as sledge hockey if there was level access for on and off ice entry for winter sports and dryland activities for when the ice is removed,” she wrote in a letter to council.

She said the provincial government is “extremely motivated” on the issue. With the formation of the Kamloops Adapted Sports Association, she said, the timing is perfect.

Boomer said PacficSport could get equipment through grants and other sources after the arenas are modified.

PacificSport contributed $10,000 towards buying wheelchairs and a trailer for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and other sports.

“Kamloops is Canada’s Tournament Capital, and it would be appropriate for our community to look at moving the platform of accessibility forward,” she wrote to council.

Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Byron McCorkell said the City has received other letters supporting adaptive sports such as sledge hockey and $80,000 has been included in the supplemental capital budget for adaptive sports.