The refrigeration ice plant at the Lake of Bays Arena, which was installed in 1979, has been upgraded to a modern, environmentally friendly system.
The switch was made possible thanks to a $500,000 grant from Ontario’s Community Building Fund Capital program. The township received the money in early 2022 but had to wait until Nov. 2023 to install the new system.
Scott MacKinnon, superintendent of parks and facilities, says the upgrade will reduce facility costs, the arena’s carbon footprint, and will reduce the amount of refrigerant needed to keep the ice cool.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the support from the Ontario government,” said MacKinnon. “This state-of-the-art, cost-effective, eco-friendly upgrade ensures the community can keep making warm memories on the ice for decades to come.”
Notably, the arena hosts the Muskoka Women’s Hockey League and the Baysville Hockey League.
Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith was on hand for the celebration Wednesday morning.
“I’m thrilled for the residents of Lake of Bays and pleased to finally be able to celebrate this important investment,” said Smith. “Our government knows that arenas are vital community hubs, particularly in small municipalities like Lake of Bays. This is why we’ve made investing in community infrastructure for projects such as this a government priority.”
The grant program is run by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). According to Smith’s office, OTF invested over $110 million into 1,022 community projects and partnerships in 2023.
