School District 47 will look into a request to use district space for skateboarding.
At a Powell River Board of Education meeting on December 15, trustees reviewed correspondence from Tim Ladner, who stated he had been running skateboarding programs in the qathet region for the last four years.
“I am currently on the hunt for some space to run more sessions,” stated Ladner. “I’m writing to enquire as to the possibility of running these programs in conjunction with School District 47, ideally in an indoor location, but open to all possibilities.”
Trustee Brendan Behan said he had met Ladner formally. He said Ladner used to partner with the Vancouver School Board for skateboarding.
“There’s quite a skateboarder group that has developed in Powell River,” said Behan. “During COVID-19, they were lucky enough to have access to the rink at the Powell River Recreation Complex because the ice was removed. That has since been replaced and the ice is back in.
“They are looking for a place and I know there is some concern about damage to gym floors, but I think they have a high amount of kids and this is an outlet for them. The ask of the school board is if we could have a place that they could access to skateboard.”
Behan said his understanding is that these were high-end skateboards, not with scratched up wheels. He said by considering the correspondence, it speaks to the board’s promise to work with community groups in whatever way it can.
Secretary-treasurer Steve Hopkins said he had been emailed and had connected on the phone with Ladner, and that a meeting had been scheduled for Henderson Elementary School.
Hopkins said there are limitations with the school district’s gymnasiums. The idea behind Henderson is it has an asphalt hockey court and an asphalt covered area, and then they would hop over to Brooks Secondary School, recognizing the old tennis courts were paved, although not covered.
Hopkins said the school district entertained a similar request a few years back with roller derby but there was concern about the wheels on wood floor surfaces in gymnasiums.
“I’ll meet with [Ladner] and get a better idea of his ideas and see if we can accommodate him in some way,” said Hopkins.
Board chairperson Dale Lawson said it sounded like a higher risk activity could potentially be occurring on school district property and wondered what kind of considerations could be given for insurance.
Hopkins said whether it is in a gym or on school grounds, the proponent would have to carry liability insurance with the school district as a main party.
Ladner, in his correspondence, said last year, hundreds of kids and youth participated in his programs, but at the current time, they don’t have space. He stated that skateboarding is now an Olympic sport and is a great way to have kids recreate while abiding by COVID-19 protocols and staying safely distanced.
