Latest news with #ElliotLake
CBC
13 hours ago
- Sport
- CBC
'We're crossing our fingers': Elliot Lake hockey players, skaters prepare for another winter without home ice
While Elliot Lake hopes to re-open its arena this fall, some local clubs that have been waiting nearly two years for the rink to be ready may no longer exist. The only arena in the small northern Ontario city of 11,000 closed suddenly in September 2023, out of fears the roof of the wooden structure could collapse. Since then, the city has been working on repairs and raising millions of dollars to pay for them, including a $3 million donation that saw the Centennial Arena renamed the Rogers Arena. Elliot Lake also won $250,000 for coming first in the 2024 national Hockeyville contest. This week, city council heard that the earliest the arena will re-open is October. "At this point in time, it's evident that a September reopening of the facility really isn't something that's going to happen," said Bill Goulding, Elliot Lake's special projects manager. "However, I'm sitting in front of you not to propose a definite time in which it will [open]. I just tried to lay out what the situation is at the arena, what the next steps moving forward will be." Chantal Robert, the head coach of the Elliot Lake Skating Club, says for the past two winters they've been driving 45 minutes to the arena in Massey for practices, but the long hours on the road saw most of their skaters quit last season. "A lot of the families were tired of traveling, mostly the kids," she said. "It was becoming a struggle getting the kids to Massey, bringing them back. That hour and a half on the highway was really draining on the kids, not enjoying the sport as much as they used to." Robert says during the first winter without an arena, figure skaters used the ice at the Elliot Lake curling club, but she doesn't know if that will be possible this season and many of their former members have now switched to dance, swimming and other sports. "Either we're going to have to work super hard to rebuild the club, or unfortunately, and I don't want to say it, but it might be the end of figure skating in Elliot Lake," she said. "We're crossing our fingers, so we're just holding tight." The Elliot Lake Minor Hockey Association says it has booked ice time at the Massey arena for practices in September, still hoping to have the local arena back sometime this winter. The Elliot Lake Vikings junior hockey team also moved to Massey, as well as using the arenas in Blind River and Espanola, over the past two winters. But the club took a leave of absence from the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League in the middle of last season and has decided to also sit out the entire upcoming 2025-26 season.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Child food bank use doubles in Elliot Lake as costs rise
Northern Ontario Watch Food inflation hits Canadians hard, with food banks like Elliot Lake's seeing a 40 per cent surge in clients since 2023 and child users doubling to 114 monthly.
CTV News
a day ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Elliot Lake arena may open this winter
While hopes for reopening this summer have been dashed, officials in Elliot Lake say repairs to its arena could be complete sometime in 2025-2026.
CTV News
21-07-2025
- CTV News
Northern Ont. senior charged with impaired driving after beach disturbance
A 76-year-old Elliot Lake man faces impaired driving charges after Ontario Provincial Police responded to a disturbance at Spine Beach last week. July 18 at about 1:30 p.m., officers were called to the waterfront following reports of an intoxicated older man making inappropriate comments to lifeguards. Police located the suspect and took him into custody. As a result of the incident, the man was charged with two impaired driving offences – including operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of more than 80. In addition to the charges, under provincial legislation, the motorist also received 90-day driver's licence suspension and the vehicle used to get him to the beach was impounded for seven days at the owner's expense. The accused is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 11. Police warn against impaired driving In a news release over the weekend, OPP reiterated warnings about the dangers of impaired driving. 'OPP remind motorists that no amount of alcohol or drug is acceptable to consume and drive,' police said, adding that impaired driving should be reported to authorities. Report impaired drivers Ontario Provincial Police are urging the public to report suspected impaired drivers. (File photo/Supplied/Ontario Provincial Police) 'Should you observe a suspected impaired driver, please dial 911 or contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122,' said police.
CTV News
21-07-2025
- CTV News
Northern Ont. man facing 12 charges over 3 days
Ontario Provincial Police officers are shown in uniform in this undated image. (File photo/CTV News) A 66-year-old Elliot Lake man is facing numerous charges after Ontario Provincial Police arrested him in connection with multiple alleged crimes over three days last week. Same suspect arrested in three separate occurrences The incidents began on Wednesday, July 16, when officers responded to a complaint from a U-Haul depot. Authorities said the man failed to pay for and return a rented trailer. Police later located the trailer, which was recovered and returned to the business. The suspect was arrested and charged for this incident. Restaurant assault and convenience store theft Thursday, the same man allegedly entered a restaurant on Oakland Boulevard, consumed a meal, and left without paying. Officers said he assaulted an employee before proceeding to a gas station convenience store on Highway 108, where he allegedly stole a pack of cigarettes. He was again arrested and charged for these incidents. Threats and third arrest at remote camp Subsequently on Friday, the man reportedly attended a camp on Highway 639, north of Elliot Lake. 'Complainants reported the man being high on drugs and threatening to kill them,' OPP said in a news release on the weekend. Officers located him riding an all-terrain vehicle in the area and again took him into custody. OPP arrest - Facebook An Ontario Provincial Police officer handcuffs an unknown male suspect in this undated image. (File photo/Ontario Provincial Police/Facebook) A dozen charges laid As a result of these incidents, the accused faces the following charges: assault, theft, four counts of uttering threats, assaulting a peace officer, mischief, food and lodging fraud, careless driving, failing to wear a proper helmet and abandoning material likely to become litter. The man was held in custody pending a bail hearing in Blind River on Saturday.
