It was another eventful winter for Ken Pye, the head organizer of Sk8te Hollinger. Saturday marked the final day of year two of operation for the figure-8 ice skating loop in the heart of the city, which this year included an NHL sized hockey rink set up under the lights of Fred Salvador Field.
The loop saw an impressive 95 days of skating this year, up significantly from the 55 of last season. Pye gives most of the credit for that to Mother Nature.
"Last year we didn't have snow until after Christmas, and what came melted," he said.
Pye estimates there were over 60,000 visitors on the rinks this winter. The busiest day saw 3,500 users.
"The hockey rink was a big success. I made the figure-8 30 per cent larger than last year, wider, more surface area. The whole figure-8 and the other rink is equivalent to four hockey rinks."
The hockey rink had enough space for up to four separate games of shinny to take place at once.
"I built that rink because I couldn't stand the hockey players on the figure-8," said Pye with a laugh.
"Then some baseball player comes up to me and says he wants to hold a pond hockey tournament. I said 'what's that'? Then I find out its the biggest thing in hockey right now."
This year the City of Timmins contributed financially after Pye successfully lobbied for assistance in October with costs for construction and electricity.
"It worked out fine. We're going to get $32,000 bucks from them, and its really going to help with what we're doing here."
The winter wasn't without some drama. In early December, careless snowmobilers caused approximately $4000 in damage to the park by ignoring a city bylaw. Other snowmobiles were spotted at night on video speeding across the figure-8. Local social media threads became very divided between supporters of Sk8te Hollinger and snowmobile enthusiasts.
In late January, an enclosed path for snowmobiles opened along the edges of the park which granted access to the Shell gas station on Algonquin Boulevard. It had to be approved by council in early January, as the station is not on the local trail system, as well as the fact that recreational vehicle use in city parks is illegal.
Some local riders felt that Shell's specially formulated gas is superior for their machines, citing the effects of ethanol on engines. The Shell gas station does not contribute to the Timmins Snowmobile Club, the organization who was solely responsible for the installation and maintenance of the pathway.
Pye said there were no incidents after it was installed, although he spotted a major safety hazard on near daily basis.
"Most of the skidoos don't stop at that stop sign. They race right through there. That's like playing Russian Roulette. Nothing did happen, but they're not supposed to be doing that. Other than that the trail worked out fine. I'd just like to see them stop blowing that stop sign."
He receives numerous messages and comments from people every day, thanking him for his efforts in providing a sparkling winter recreational jewel for everyone in the community.
"I haven't had one negative comment all winter. I started here October 15, and I haven't taken a day off since I started. Not even Christmas or New Year's. Usually 6 a.m. to 10 p.m."
While speaking with TimminsToday on Saturday afternoon, a woman approached Pye and sincerely asked "How can I become a supporter? I think this is wonderful."
With freezing rain and temperatures above zero expected in the next few days, it was time to begin the arduous task of tearing it all down once again. It was only fitting that Saturday, the final skating day of the season, was a mild and beautifully clear day. It may have even have had the ideal conditions.
"Two days ago we had the worst ice of the season. We had holes ten feet in diameter. We fixed them, and this morning we had the best ice we've ever had."
Unforeseen circumstances led to yet another community partner stepping in to save the day.
"Unfortunately we froze the main water line to our water supply here in the park. So we had to reach out to some companies, and two of them came through and helped us haul water here, Mascioli Construction. Big truckloads. That was two days ago and this morning. At 7 a.m. they were here dumping water on the rink and it made a beautiful rink," said Pye.
The water, from Masicioli Construction, was hauled by DSI Services, he said.
Two trailers donated by ATCO provided a comfortable setting for users of both the figure-8 and hockey rink this year. The company has given Pye the option to acquire them permanently.
"I'm going to try to raise the money to help me buy them, because I can't afford to do that myself."
Pye said there have been supporters from near and far. For example, Brownlee Equipment from Earlton, gave Sk8te Hollinger a half price deal on a Zamboni.
"I only have to pay another $3,500. Even from out of town we're getting donations. I'm getting donations from Toronto, like big donations."
One of Pye's volunteers has setup a GoFundMe page, and he will also be at the popular Timmins Home Show in late April.
"I'm bringing Sk8te Hollinger with me to the Home Show and I'm going to try and raise money for the Zamboni and the two trailers. Those things, I guess in the end I have to take ownership of them, but its for the park, I've got no use for them," he said with a chuckle.
It was a fittingly beautiful day to put a bow on Sk8te Hollinger's second year of operation. Andrew Autio for TimminsToday Sk8te Hollinger has received worldwide attention, thanks in large part to its live webcams which were provided by Great White North Technology Consulting.
"There's people watching that from all over the world. From the United Kingdom to Chile."
There is one story that really stood out for Pye this winter.
"A guy kept coming here during March Break. The second day, I noticed he had little kids with him. So I asked him what he did, and he said he was a Zamboni driver. He was like the third Zamboni driver we'd met this winter, so I'm thinking 'that's pretty cool'. Then he went on to say 'I'm just here to meet my kids' and I said 'what do you mean?' He was adopting four children."
The figure-8 was used as a 'meet and greet' and bonding time for the new family.
"He would bring them to the 8 every day to spend some time with them. He then went home that weekend, and then him and his wife came back the following week to pick them up permanently. They were four siblings, ages three to six I believe. It's an incredible story. It brought a family together. I was stunned," said Pye, admitting he got choked up when he first heard the man's saga.
It is heartwarming moments like that which make the long hours all worthwhile for Pye and his team of volunteers.
"I have kids that come here that spend 10 hours a day here. I have people that come here from the poorest to the richest. I get people that come here who haven't skated since they were kids. It's a different type of crowd than those who go to the arenas, it's just a different experience," said Pye.
There is no fee to use the Sk8te Hollinger facilities, and there are even free skate 'rentals'.
"They were all donated. I put out a call last year to get donations. We got quite a few, about 30 pairs. Then this year, I just kept pushing hard to get more skates and the next thing you know, we had over a hundred pairs of skates. We even got free skate sharpening from the local skate sharpening shops. They come in, pick up the skates, they sharpen them, and bring them back. What town does that?" said Pye proudly.
The community support didn't end there. A 4,000 watt stereo system was donated, keeping tunes going all day long. A couple of local businesses also provided Sk8te Hollinger with coffee, hot chocolate, and other refreshments to sell in their canteen, which helped with day-to-day costs.
Pye was told by city officials on Friday that the figure-8 has been approved for another winter. He is awaiting word regarding the NHL sized hockey rink, but said that if it can't be at Hollinger, he'll build it somewhere else.
