Home »
Arena management to transition to RDEK
For almost 40 years, the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena has been managed by a society of dedicated volunteers; however, changes in liability and safety requirements have prompted the Columbia Valley Recreation Society (CVRS) and Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) to look at a new option for the management of the facility.
The arena is owned by the RDEK and has been operated under contract by the society since the mid-70s.
“We have been fortunate to have such a hardworking and committed Society running the arena. From being fiscally responsible, to ensuring the arena was an open, accessible facility for the community, we are so appreciative to Arena Manager Phyllis Dubliewicz and all the members of the society board for their efforts,” says RDEK Columbia Valley Services Committee Chair and District of Invermere Mayor Gerry Taft. “Over the past five years, there have been a number of changes with regard to safety requirements, liability, inspection regulations and risk management. We have had to provide increasing support and felt it was no longer fair to burden our volunteer group with the responsibility required to operate the arena.”
As a result, when the society’s current contract expires at the end of September, the management of the arena will be transferred to the RDEK.
“I would like to thank the current and past members of the board as well as arena staff for all of their hard work and dedication over the years,” says Society Board Chair Joe Evanoff. “The Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena has long been an important part of the Columbia Valley and I am sure that the RDEK, in conjunction with the Recreation Advisory Commission, will continue to work hard to ensure that it continues to be a valuable and accessible asset to the community for years to come.”
As part of the new management structure, the RDEK hopes to have a coordinator in place to not only oversee the arena, but also a number of the RDEK’s recreational assets in the Columbia Valley including Windermere Beach, the Crossroads Ball Park and some of our parks and trails.
“We will be appointing a Recreation Advisory Commission to help provide us with advice on the Arena and other recreational facilities. We will be looking for a good cross-section of user groups with broad based geographic representation from the entire Valley,” said Taft. The commission will be established later this year.
“We owe a big thank you to all the people since the mid-70s who have volunteered their time to the arena. It has been well looked after. It is a true, valuable asset for the Columbia Valley,” added Taft.
RDEK
