The doors are open and activities are inching back towards normal at the Gallagher Centre in Yorkton.
The facility re-opened Sept. 1, and general manager Taylor Morrison said they are now trying to get everything operating as best as possible given the constraints of public regulations regarding COVID-19.
“Everything is more or less available,” he said, but added each area of the facility is adapting its own programming.
For example, “there is limited programming scheduled ion the water park right now,” said Morrison.
Morrison said before they add more programming they are waiting to see “if people are comfortable coming back to the building.”
Once they get a better feel for how people feel about being back in the pool they can expand programs such as lane swims and aquasize “depending on interest.”
So far, people seem to feel positive about a return, added Morrison.
“We’ve had a really good response for our aquasize program,” he said.
Morrison said it is suggested people pre-register for swimming as numbers are limited, although walk-ups will be taken ‘if room’.
The meeting rooms and convention centre are available too, but Morrison said there are provincial guidelines they are following in terms of how many people can attend functions, adding those numbers vary with meetings and weddings having different limits as an example.
In the Westland Arena hockey school programming has actually been under way since the beginning of August, said Morrison, with a limit of 30.
In addition to a limit on participants, there are protocols for where to put on skates, and alternate in and out doors so groups don’t interact.
With the re-opening Morrison said they are starting to have practice ice times booked for minor hockey, the SECON Maulers, and Junior Terriers, as well as figure skating.
“They’re starting to come back as best they can within the guidelines,” he said.
The full guidelines can be found at www.gallaghercentre.com
