WATCH ABOVE: Dave Trafford explains how the rinks are staying open this year and what the city is doing to keep them open next year.
TORONTO – The waste management company which had pledged $100,000 to keep city ice rinks open has now chosen not to, voluntarily withdrawing its donation.
Green For Life’s (GFL) donation, which was matched by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, was supposed to keep 12 of the 35 rinks set to close last Friday open until the middle of March.
GFL, which services Toronto west of Yonge Street, pulled its donation Monday.
“They had an issue that caused them to decide to withdraw, which they did yesterday, from keeping open these rinks,” Mayor John Tory said at an afternoon press conference.
Tory explained he was under the impression GFL was not a part of any contract negotiations with the city when accepting the donation, but over the course of the weekend, found out that’s not true. As a result, GFL pulled its donation.
But Councillor Gord Perks said the bigger concern is whether or not due process was followed in securing the donation.
The rinks will stay open, however, as Tim Hortons has replaced the donation pulled by GFL. The donation was applauded by former Leafs’ player Wendel Clark.
“It’s great that we can get out. This is what our communities are all about. This is how our game becomes great,” he said.
Tory went on to say the city would look at keeping extra rinks open next year if there are funds available to pay the costs.
“We have to take a serious look at how many rinks we can keep open with city funds, because they’re not unlimited, through the school break week,” he said.
Comments