When disaster strikes, recreation facilities become essential

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Postmedia has not reviewed the content. by GlobeNewswire When disaster strikes, recreation facilities become essentialAuthor of the article:In summer 2026, Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay was set up as a temporary evacuation site for people fleeing wildfires across Northern Ontario. GNWTORONTO, Oct. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Ontario Recreation Facilities Association (ORFA) wrapped up its annual Symposium this week focused on the vital role of recreation facilities in emergency management planning.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account“While your local arena may be a designated evacuation centre, much of Ontario’s recreation infrastructure was not built for emergency management,” said Terry Piche, ORFA’s Director, Training, Research and Development. “A lot of our arenas and recreation centres are more than 50 years old and don’t have the amenities people need in an emergency.”This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.ORFA wants governments and communities to understand that investing in recreation infrastructure is also an investment in keeping people safe when disasters happen. These buildings, and the people who run them, often become essential services during a crisis.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againIn many communities, an arena or recreation centre is named in the emergency management plan simply because it is large enough to hold hundreds of people. However, are these facilities ready for an emergency? In many cases, the answer is no. Can the facility keep the lights and heat on during a multi-day power outage? Can it provide safe indoor air during wildfire smoke or extreme heat? Are entrances and washrooms accessible? Is there a place to charge phones? Are there showers, toilets and places to prepare and refrigerate good? Are staff trained to convert an arena into an evacuation centre? These are critical questions for governments and communities to evaluate.As extreme weather events, including wildfires and flooding, become more common, many communities have firsthand experience in repurposing recreation infrastructure in an emergency:This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.In summer 2026, many recreation facilities, such as Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay and Mountjoy Arena in Timmins, were set up as evacuation centres for people fleeing and returning home from wildfires across Northern Ontario.In March 2025, a severe ice storm hit central and eastern Ontario causing significant damage and generating approximately $11 million in unplanned costs for the City of Peterborough, including expenses for warming centres.At the Symposium, held in Markham on October 26 and 27, participants heard from experts on topics including extreme weather response, community event safety, digital risks of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, retrofitting community facilities for emergency response, post-pandemic lessons learned and more. More information about the vital role of recreation infrastructure in emergency management is available at www.orfa.com.For more information, contact: Jacqueline Demers, demers@redbrick.ca, 416-859-6250The Ontario Recreation Facilities Association provides leadership in professional development, and in products and services for its members who operate and manage recreation facilities in municipalities, educational institutions, government agencies, First Nations communities and in the private recreation sector.This advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.