Ammonia concern shutting down Leo Boivin Community Centre

A failed test of its ice plant, and concerns over a possible ammonia leak, has led to the closure of the skating rink at the Leo Boivin Community Centre in Prescott.

Town officials held an emergency meeting Tuesday to order the decommissioning of the ice plant and to discuss the future of the facility.

Officials said they will look for other uses for the Leo Boivin building.

The town recently had its contractor conduct testing on the rink's ice plant, ahead the coming skating season.

That testing was ordered in light of the tragedy in Fernie, British Columbia last October, where three arena workers died as a result of an ammonia leak.

“This is a very sad day for all of us in the Town of Prescott,” said Mayor Brett Todd. “While we have been working toward the construction of a new Leo Boivin Community Centre, we expected to have at least a few more years left at this current, beloved facility. Unfortunately, the circumstances involving the use of ammonia in ice plants in Canada have changed dramatically in recent weeks and months. All we can do now is redouble our efforts and build a new Leo Boivin Community Centre.”

A statement from the town added that the health and safety of the Leo Boivin's users and staff is its top priority.

A rink in Goderich has also closed, as it ran the same ice plant as the Prescott arena.

In the meantime, a GoFundMe page has been started with the hope of speeding up the process of building a new skating rink in the Town of Prescott.