Carrot River’s arena is getting a new and improved girls’ change room.
The community centre is undergoing renovations throughout the year. One of the changes coming to the building is a revamped space for girls to get ready for hockey games.
“We noticed more and more girls continuing to play minor hockey at the local level where it is boys and girls playing together,” said Miranda Blaber, the town’s recreation director.
“There used to be one or two girls here and there that would play and we had a tiny little room for them, we put one or two in there and it worked.”
Now, Blaber said, as many as five girls may be playing on a mixed team (they may also choose to play on an all-girls hockey team).
“We needed an extra dressing room with a little extra space,” she said. “We created this space and we’ve kind of dubbed it as a girls dressing room. It’ll be used for many other groups as well.”
The Carrot River Arena has received grant funding from the Canada 150 program, through which the federal government provides money for infrastructure in celebration of the country’s 150th anniversary.
“Part of the renovations that we’re seeing happening now and that we will see happening are going to be due to that and some things are started already. The big major bulk of it will be starting this spring and everything should be completed by fall of 2017.”
The work encompasses changes to the entrance, upgrades in the kitchen and changes to players’ benches and heating systems.
Pat Flegg, the arena manager, said he was most looking forward to the changes to the entrance and the girls’ dressing room.
The girls’ change room is part of the overall renovations occurring in the building. The opening date for the new space isn’t yet decided, but Blaber said the room will ensure girls are comfortable.
“It’s nice to be able to give them the space and keep them feeling comfortable while they [play on a mixed team].”
Currently, girls change in the smaller space and join their team for a pre-game meeting when all players are ready.
