The Saanich Lacrosse Executive is asking for your support in communicating to Saanich Council that recreation facilities are under resourced.

The 2020 District of Saanich Budget process is underway and they are seeking public input.

https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/strategic-and-financial-planning-1/the-financial-plan.html

The purpose behind this request is the lack of dry floor time the Saanich Lacrosse Association is able to secure at Pearkes Arena. For the past number of seasons, the District of Saanich has only removed the ice from one arena. The timing of this is also later than most other arenas on Vancouver Island which results in Saanich Lacrosse being forced to play home games in other arenas. In 2019 we played home games early in the season at Archie Browning and Peninsula. Only having one dry floor also prevents the association from running a tournament or hosting the provincials. The primary reason lacrosse is not able to secure the dry floor is the revenue generated by ice use by for-profit groups.

Saanich Lacrosse is asking our members, as residents of Saanich, to send the following email to budget@saanich.ca as soon as possible and no later than March 15th

• Dear Mayor and Council,

I am a resident of Saanich and would like to provide input during the 2020 Budget discussion. As a parent of a minor lacrosse player, and member of the Saanich Lacrosse Association I do not believe the District is committing sufficient resources to the recreation department’s budget.

Saanich needs dedicated dry floor space so that lacrosse players can have fair access to Pearkes recreation facilities. As part of this, Saanich should provide priority access to Saanich based, not-for-profit associations rather than for-profit-groups utilizing Saanich facilities.

Thank you,
YOUR NAME
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