Council for the Town of Saugeen Shores is pleased with how the first summer of year-round ice was received.
Council approved a three-year pilot program for year-round ice at the Plex in 2024. At this week's meeting, staff provided a report on the results of the first summer of the pilot, which showed it was well-received.
Deputy Mayor Mike Myatt said it was great to see.
"It's really a good news story. I know there was some question in the beginning whether or not this would be viable," he said. "As it turns out the numbers are really solid. I think the groups produced in terms of promoting the ice surface and the area groups came out in big numbers to support summer ice. It wasn't a drain on the taxpayer, as a matter of fact it was the opposite."
Staff said usage will only go up, as there are already 830 hours booked for this summer, nearly as much as time as was rented across summer of 2025. Rentals fell slightly below the estimated 50 hours a week in 2025, averaging 47.
However, revenue generated from the program was more than expected, as energy costs of keeping the ice in year round were less than half of what staff estimated.
All told, the town generated over $81,000 in net revenue in the pilot's first year.
The report also noted that the change resulted in more offseason rentals going to the Southampton Coliseum, resulting in one of its busiest summers.
Staff anticipate that ice usage will increase in 2026, setting the target at 60 hours a week.
Demand for ice time in the community remains high, prompting user groups to ask the Town to explore installing another ice pad sooner than later.
