Home / Disasters and Accidents / Asbestos Found: Greenwood Arena Shuttered Immediately
Asbestos Found: Greenwood Arena Shuttered Immediately
26 Jul
Summary
- Asbestos and lead dust found in 14 Wing Greenwood arena.
- Arena closure is immediate and causes significant disruption.
- Skating club seeks new ice time for 150 members.
The Department of National Defence has closed the 14 Wing Greenwood base arena effective immediately due to the identification of asbestos and lead dust. This precautionary measure is being taken to limit potential exposure to hazardous materials while remediation and further testing are completed.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and lead is a toxic metal. The Department of National Defence acknowledged that the closure will disrupt public access to valued recreational services and programs, emphasizing their priority is the safety of personnel and the community.
This sudden closure has caused considerable disruption for the Greenwood Skating Club, which has around 150 skaters. The club's head coach noted that while the hazardous materials were reportedly localized to a storage area, the announcement has left them scrambling to find alternative ice time for their members.
Skater Emily Cuming, 17, expressed concern about the closure affecting her upcoming competitive season, noting it will significantly increase her travel time to other rinks. The club is actively seeking and has found some available ice time in nearby communities.
