What a great day! Sylvia had a table at the vendors market at the Silver Stick tournament today. It was in the Remax room of the Twin Pad Arena/ Library. I had the honour of helping her today and it was my first day truly experiencing the facility for more than just a stop in or a tour.

Wow! Was it ever fantastic walking around and seeing the crowds come and go. I stuck around and helped out for a bit and had one overall observation.

The people there today were all enjoying every corner of our incredible new facility. Early in the day, I saw kids on the outdoor basketball court. This was the first time I had seen the parking barriers removed to allow for overflow parking on the basketball courts. What a great design idea.

Both Ice Pads were booked all day and there was a constant stream of hockey players and coaches heading to and from the dressing rooms. Spectators mingled in the main lobby and filled sections of the seating in the main rink. The secondary rink had some parents up on the walking track leaning on the railing to watch, as others walked the laps behind them.

Not only was it cool to see young children in the mini-stick rink, but I was astounded watching the number of kids who walked into the arena with their mini sticks in hand as their older siblings carried their hockey bags. I had no idea how big this had become.

The library had a constant stream of people heading in to use the facility and more than one person engaged us in conversation about what a FANTASTIC library it was.

Staff at the TPAL were incredible, manning the main desk and also ensuring the lobby stayed clean and ready for the next teams.

Even the new Tim Hortons seemed to do alright with lineups most times I ventured out into the lobby. Of course, I had to walk into the pro-shop where I was greeted by a young man who offered his help if I needed anything in particular. The slate sharpening machine probably got a few runs today.

So many people! It was GREAT to see. Kudos to the Council AND staff that designed and built this facility. Hundreds of visitors to Wasaga Beach came here today (and for the next 4 weekends) BECAUSE our TPAL and because of the Silver Stick International Tournament.

So, when Brian and his CAO’s put on concerts in the facility to celebrate its opening, they came up with a dollar number that they calculated was spent locally during those concerts. Will the Town recognize the economic impact of this (and other) hockey tournaments in the same way? Does anyone recall the dollars spent per visitor that they claimed during the concerts?

I have one question, but of course, the Town does not respond to my questions so I will ask it here;

I have been curious about where our new arena overlay floor was being stored. After all, Wasaga Beach tax-payers purchased this floor brand new for about $250,000.00. So, I would hope it is safe from the elements. But, I saw what looked like a large squared off stack of something shrink-wrapped in white shrink wrap just outside the arena back doors. Is this pile our quarter million dollar floor? I hope there are plans to store it better if that is what I was seeing.

Anyhow, to the staff there today and every day, great work! It’s just a building unless the right people are there to ensure being there is a positive experience!!!

… and it never would have been built without the support of these six people;