There is an arena named for him in Orillia - biggest town nearest to Midland/Penetanguishene..He is an awesome talent...
http://www.orillia.ca/en/livinginorillia/brianorser.asp
http://www.orilliapacket.com/2015/05...to-its-closure
A crack in the floor at Brian Orser Arena could lead to its closure.
That was the news from Bob Ripley, the city’s chief financial officer, at Wednesday’s major capital budget planning meeting.
Despite the crack in the floor, the draft capital budget prepared by Ripley does not include money for the Gill Street facility, in part because of the possibility of a new arena being built as part of the proposed recreation centre.
Ripley had $2 million slotted for Brian Orser Arena, but none of it coming before the tail end of the current five-year plan being discussed by council, including $600,000 to fix the floor. If a leak forms because of that crack, Ripley said, the rink will be forced to close its doors.
Accordingly, some councillors felt money needed to be spent on the aging rink as soon as next year.
“I think we should leave $2 million in there for sure until there is some decision made on the site of the new arena,” Coun. Tim Lauer said. “As far as timing ... we should actually put that $600,000 up front. I’ve already lived through an arena closure and it’s not a pleasant time in your life.”
Staff seemed to differ on how urgent the issue is.
Ripley had indicated Lauer’s comments echoed those of the city’s former CAO, which is why money for such repairs was previously added into the budget. However, that money was removed at the recommendation of Ray Merkley, director of parks, recreation and culture.
How serious the crack is also remains to be seen, said recreation services manager Marcia Russell.
“It is unknown to us. We work with it now. We create ice that is thicker in some areas and thinner in others, because (the floor pad) is on a tilt and we’ve got cracks in it,” she explained. “We can’t predict when it will give, but I would say that our manager of facilities would say to you, ‘Do it sooner than later.’”
Recently, Russell said, a company was brought in to look at the structural aspects of the arena, including the floor pad, albeit not in “close detail.”
“I think, probably, Mr. Merkley’s recommendation is based on the fact they didn’t show that as an emergency within their report,” she said. “I just think, from our operating standpoint, we look at it a little different. We might make it to 2018.”
Coun. Ralph Cipolla was the lone dissenting councillor who spoke on the issue. He noted Lauer had alluded to the Orillia Community Centre’s closure and he didn’t want to make the same mistakes again. If council is to do something, Cipolla wants it done right.
“We spent $1 million trying to fix it up in such a way that it could be used, and the next thing you know, it got shut down completely,” he recalled. “We got raked over the goals for it, for spending $1 million and then having to shut it down, I think, (four to six) months later.”
Coun. Sarah Valiquette-Thompson thought it prudent to have money for Brian Orser Arena in the budget soon. Further, if council decides to pursue a new arena in conjunction with the recreation centre, it would be a way to “get creative” with funding that would not increase the $45-million burden on the taxpayers councillors agreed to at their May 7 budget committee meeting.
“That will include exploring external funding; that will include revisions in this capital budget where we reallocate without burdening further,” Mayor Steve Clarke said, using an example of taking the money from repairs to Brian Orser Arena and using it for the new facility. “We could even get to the point where we agree to explore that new arena concept and move that $2 million into the new facility budget.”
Ripley urged council members to be cautious.
“This is meant to be a plan,” he said. “Placing $2 million in a year where we really have no intention of spending $2 million does not help in developing a plan ... We should show the expenditures approximately where we plan to have them.”