Shannon Rempel and the need to improve Winnipeg's long track speed skating venue

While at the Morris Stampede earlier today, I had a chance to meet and talk with Shannon Rempel. Shannon is shown with the silver medal she won as part of the women's team pursuit at the Turin Olympics earlier this year.

We talked of the need to improve the long track speed skating venue at Sargeant Park. First of all we need to have artificial ice so that the season can be extended, and so competitions can be held without having to put up with the vagaries of weather. Second we need to enclose the track. To do this as Calgary has done might cost $10 million. But there may be a simpler way. More and more we are seeing golf domes and other structures made from less costly fabrics. It might be possible to enclose the speed skating oval in a simlar fashion - following the outline in pink at the bottom. If it was just the skating surface that was enclosed, plus of course some space and bleechers for a crowd to watch it might cost much less than the $10 million needed in Calgary. Good positioning of cameras could allow spectators to watch the whole track and the whole race on screens. It is just a thought - but we need to do something to enable Manitobans to have better training in long track speed skating here in our province.

Thank you Shannon - and good luck.