No more free advertising at Harbour Grace rink

By Mark Squibb / July 14, 2023

Businesses looking to get their logos advertised on the Danny Cleary Community Centre ice surface will now have to pay for that marketing opportunity.

Council’s finance chairperson Gordon Stone brought the matter forward during a public meeting earlier this month.

“After some discussion (in committee), it appears that most ice surfaces with logos are paid for by sponsors,” said Stone. “We have found out that ours have not been paid, and we think we have to get up to date on that.”

Stone moved that the Town Manager and Danny Cleary Community Centre manager work together to prepare a list of prices for replacing logos at the ice surface at the rink, and that the fees be implemented for this season’s ice installation on July 31.

Deputy Mayor Keith Skinner seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

The high cost of running the facility year-round has recently become a hot button issue in council chambers.

Council had voted in January, as part of Budget 2023, to shut down the facility, which houses a skating rink, community space, and walking trail, from May until September of this year in hopes of saving a few dollars. However, a motion made later that winter to re-open the facility for August and September was approved by council.

Following some complaints, council voted unanimously in April to keep the facility open year-round. Although councillors Stone and Deputy Mayor Keith Skinner said they had reservations against keeping the facility open 12 months a year, they too voted in favour of the motion.