Mayor Says City Doing What It Can To Open Facilities More
By Robert Thomas
IN DEPTH QUESTIONS ASKED
The Mayor is well aware of the impact the COVID - 19 restrictions have had on recreation and it is something the City has been working on in order to maximize the recreational opportunities for the community. Recreational opportunities the Mayor said many in the community need at the present time.
Mayor Fraser Tolmie made the comments from questions by MJ Independent during a media scrum following Monday evening’s Council meeting. The entire 15 minute media scrum is available on the City of Moose Jaw Facebook page.
The Mayor - in response to a question about the effect the restrictions are having on the Moose Jaw Soccer Association (MJSA) and Moose Jaw Minor Hockey plus other youth sports - said the City has been doing its best to open up recreational activities and has been working with the Province regarding the COVID - 19 pandemic restrictions.
On Monday evening the MJSA approached Council requesting a temporary reduction in their turf rates as the per player costs were unsustainable and had the association cancelling part of its programming. As part of their presentation MJSA presented a letter of support on the relatively low cost of soccer had not only allowed many Newcomer children an affordable recreational activity but also a major avenue to better integrate into the community as a whole.
“In our conversations with the Province obviously we are advocating for users to get out. We have to find creative ways for people to be active. And we have also spoken to the Province and the City Manager can verify it,” he said.
One of the major concerns the City was able to rectify with the Province was receiving better prior notice about any changes to the Public Health Order and the restrictions that order places upon the City.
“Our conversations with the Province have always been give us a heads up when rolling out a new restriction or a change so that our Administration has time to implement the changes,” he said, adding “Because of what was happening (earlier in the pandemic) it was coming fast and furious and we were finding out an hour before they had the press conference.”
Recently the Prairie South School Division as well as the Saskatchewan Hockey Association were able to issue statements about the extended length of the restrictions after meeting with provincial officials.
This Tuesday the Province announced the present restrictions will remain in place until at least February 19th at which time they will be reviewed.
The Mayor said despite ultimately being “creatures of the Province” the City did have a role to play.
“That is not to shy away from our responsibilities. We have recreational facilities and we are doing our best that we can to keep it going.”
Asked about incentives to assist free programs such as the now COVID - 19 cancelled Friday evening free youth swim as well as the free Prince Arthur School Friday evening program once restrictions are lifted the Mayor said the City had yet to be approached about the programs re-starting.
The highly popular programs first started with the free swim as an anti-drug initiative with the Prince Arthur program added later. The Prince Arthur program started as a means to allow children who could not access the Friday night free swim an opportunity to have a free weekend recreational activity. Both programs have the support of the Moose Jaw Police Service.
“Right now that has not come across my desk. I will say this program I was on Council when it was implemented on a Friday night and it is a great program. It is about getting kids off of the street and keeping them active…again as I pointed out during our Council discussion different organizations have different needs and different requirements so we cannot just do the cookie cutter approach.”
Regarding the Prince Arthur program Mayor Tolmie said he was unfamiliar with it but he would look into it. The Prince Arthur Friday night program attracted neighbourhood children who would walk to the school to participate in recreational activities.
“Quite honestly I have got two kids and one of the things I want to do is to get out and I am finding myself becoming a couch potato and getting tired of watching Netflix, Crave and Disney so we had our kids out toboganning making use of the hills we have here,” the Mayor said.
The Mayor commended the schools for the physical activity opportunities they are offering to children at the present time.
Asked about his concerns as chair of the Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners (the de facto employer of the MJPS) and the escalating amount of violence in the community the Mayor said it had been expected but it worried him as part of his job.
“We knew if it was going to be an extended period of time that we would see challenges to people’s temperament to their mental health,” he said.
From December 2019 to December 2020 the MJPS reported a 46.8 percent increase in domestic dispute calls compared to the same 12 month period the prior year. The increase in the violent crimes was used a justification to increase the MJPS budget.
The importance of regular balanced physical activity to a person’s mental health was part of a request to allow free access to the Yara Centre after the demise of the YMCA.
More than one study shows a link between recreational activities and the reduction of stress and violence.
Mayor Tolmie said it was a good time to discuss the issue due to the strain of the pandemic and the fast approaching February blahs.
“I have to say this it is always a concern.”
He encouraged those who were experiencing mental health problems to reach out for help through such programs as Bell Let’s Talk.
“We really do want people to reach out and it is so hard especially at this time.”
He spoke about his own personal challenges of not being able to visit his mother in Ontario who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s during the Christmas holiday as he had planned and potentially her contracting COVID - 19 because of his visit.
“If I am going through that I know other people are going through it.”