Reopening efforts have begun at Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre.
Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson explains the facility's in the process of a "slow, phased-in" reopening - as approved by Council - starting with youth recreation programming, which traditionally makes up "the bulk" of the facility's evening programming and has been set as the top priority by Council.
That will be followed by the addition of seniors' recreation programming - which usually happens during the day - also to be phased-in over two weeks, followed by the third phase - which adds in adult recreation - also to happen over two weeks, though Patterson notes there's a level of uncertainty surrounding the later phases.
The fourth and final phase of the plan would allow "private and commercial rentals" - expected toward the end of November - though Patterson says "alternatives" are being explored, noting how the annual Fall Fair "essentially transformed" into last weekend's Goose Nest Market event.
As part of the reopening, staff have started ice-making in the rink - after receiving a key part earlier this week - with the ice expected to be ready just after Thanksgiving.