Global warming and its effects on arena costs is on the agenda at Tecumseh Council.
Hydro costs are up 20% in the month of September in the Township of Selwyn, near Peterborough, and it is asking for support in a push to start the minor hockey season in October with a goal of playing more hockey in the colder months when operating an arena isn't so costly.
Tecumseh's Director of Parks and Recreation Paul Anthony says making the change would be tough as it would affect so many user groups.
The problem is, if you were to take the season and try to adjust it, you're also now affecting other sports, each sport has its season and there is some overlap," says Anthony. "But if you try to adjust in one sport you're going to have an effect on other sports as well. So your participation levels could vary in some of those other sports."
He says Tecumseh has already been taking several energy saving measures.
"It depends on the temperatures," says Anthony. "The warmer, obviously, it is the more the refrigeration system has to work and the more the hydro usage goes up and therefore costs. Hydro has gone up, but we try to do as many energy saving initiatives as we can to try to help balance that off."
The Township of Selwyn is also lobbying the Ontario Minor Hockey Association and the Ontario Women's Hockey Association to make the change.
Tecumseh Council will discuss the issue at its regular meeting Tuesday night at 7pm.
— with files from AM800's Kathie McMann