A portable dressing room could be on its way to Centennial Arena for the White Rock Whalers.
The junior hockey club formally requested consideration and approval for the addition of a portable dressing room facility beside the arena, in a letter to White Rock council. The new space would "serve as a dedicated team dressing room to support the ongoing growth, professionalism, and longterm stability of the Whalers’ junior hockey program operating proudly in the City of White Rock," the letter said.
The proposed location for the portable is a small segment of the existing dog park area, the letter noted.
"This location has been selected to minimize any impact on current public amenities while providing a much-needed operational space for the Whalers adjacent to the entry best suited for access to existing dressing rooms and bench areas," the letter, written by White Rock Whalers partner Chris McNally, continued.
While the dressing room will serve as the primary dressing room for the White Rock Whalers junior hockey program, "we fully intend for the facility to be available as a shared resource that benefits the broader community. When not in use by the Whalers, the space would be made available to the City, Semiahmoo Minor Hockey, and other user groups for programming, tournaments, training, camps, or other recreational purposes," the letter said.
The Whalers are prepared to fund 100 per cent of the costs associated with the delivery, installation, maintenance, and eventual removal of this modular facility, McNally's letter noted.
At Monday's (June 9) council meeting, White Rock council voted unanimously to refer the issue back to staff to explore adding the portable dressing room to the arena.
"Staff have suggested that this item could be referred for further investigation into its feasibility, and for additional discussions to be held with the affected stakeholders," the council agenda said.
