Revised - Last Friday, user groups who rely on school gymnasiums to offer programming received an email from the City of Whitehorse detailing that the use of school facilities will be further delayed – this is at least the third time it has been put on hold.

The email user groups received from the city reads:

“Dear School Administrators and School User Groups,

“As we wait for decisions from the Department of Education, Joint Use Bookings outside school hours will be delayed, with an anticipated start of November 23. This means that school facilities will be closed after hours at this time, and the booking office will not be able to schedule or confirm any use until the end of October.

“This will also apply to any school swims and skates at the Canada Games Centre. The Department of Education and the City of Whitehorse realize the importance of recreation & community services, and are working hard to establish a safe plan within the COVID-19 guidelines for the territory.”

The Public Facilities Joint Use Agreements were signed by the city, Yukon Government - Department of Education, and the Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon (CSFY).

“These agreements cover public use of Yukon Schools in Whitehorse and school swimming and skating at Canada Games Centre. The purpose of the Joint Use Agreements (JUA) is to provide a framework by which selected public facilities within the bounds of the City of Whitehorse can be used by the community to the maximum extent practicable using a benefits-based approach for space allocation,” reads the city’s website.

The agreements are effective from 2018-2021.

User groups had been hoping to be up-and-running their programs by the beginning of November, but now they are left searching for alternative plans.

Tim Brady, coach of the Wolf Pack Basketball Club, said it has been disappointing.

“It is frustrating receiving information from the city,” said Brady.

“They have been advising us on anticipated return dates. As that date gets closer, we receive another message saying it has been pushed back again.”

Normally in June, user groups are asked to submit a request for the space they anticipate needing. The city then does the organizing and scheduling for user groups in the Department of Education’s facilities. Brady said it is also frustrating because the city doesn’t know why the gyms remained closed, they are just relaying the information.

Using Zoom, Brady said there was a group meeting between user groups and the city where they discussed facility use and how to as a collective follow the guidelines to bring sports back in a safe way.

There has been no discussion or consultation from the Department of Education, he said.

“They’ve had a fair bit of time to figure this out,” said Brady.

“Perhaps they just don’t want to do it.”

Brady said he understands the situation, that COVID-19 has affected many things, and that he will remain flexible so he can continue to deliver training sessions.

“You need to have an alternative plan,” said Brady. “They say there is a delay and there isn’t anything I can do about it. I have to look at making adjustments and luckily, the parents understand.”

Brady has been able to hold sessions at the Canada Games Centre but said that isn’t ideal in the long run.

“There are multiple users of the available space,” said Brady. “Times change every couple of weeks and isn’t consistent. What was available in October may not be there in November.”

Lisa Marie-Vowk, treasurer for Volleyball Yukon, said the delay hasn’t affected the club season, yet.

“The club season doesn’t start until December,” said Marie-Vowk.

“We are doing stuff at the CGC to keep active but anything at the CGC costs us money.”

Marie-Vowk said school gyms are valuable program space and they are willing to be patient.

“Still fingers are crossed we can get into the schools,” said Marie-Vowk. “The contingency plan is to have limited times at the CGC but we will have to limit registration.”

Although the delay hasn’t stopped regular volleyball programming yet, Marie-Vowk said it is still frustrating.

“Jurisdictions across Canada are facing the same thing,” said Marie-Vowk. “There isn’t a lot of volleyball being played and that’s stressful hearing that.

“Right now we are more skill-based, practice-based, but the worry is kids will lose interest.”

Table tennis coach Kevin Murphy said he had hoped there would be more discussion between the Department of Education and the user groups.

“I don’t think they are getting the full picture,” said Murphy. “If I know what I need to do, I can get it done. There has been no dialogue. I’d wish they would be reaching out to us.”

Murphy said he understands the COVID-19 situation has made it tough for everyone and said we should be asking what can we do, instead of what can’t we do.

“I don’t know how long we will be under these conditions for,” said Murphy. “But we will adapt and abide by the conditions. The pessimist in me isn’t holding my breath we will get going Nov. 23. We are just sitting here idle.”

Table tennis has booked some time at the CGC Flexihall to be able to get some play, but that is only one table.

“It isn’t possible to run a club with one table,” said Murphy.

Under the Joint Use Agreement, user groups can use the facilities for free, they have to pay for the CGC.

Murphy said in June he booked the club and event times table tennis would need throughout the year, but at the moment he doesn’t even know if he has the days approved that he had last year.

Table tennis operates out of École Whitehorse Elementary, it is where all the equipment is, including new Butterfly tables slated to be used for the 2020 Arctic Winter Games.

Although the times are tough for user groups, Murphy said sports will survive as the Yukon is a resilient place.

“I hope this is just a blip in the history of sports here,” he said.

Sport Yukon executive director Tracey Bilsky said it has reached the point where sports organizations who rely on school facilities are losing hope.

“They need to know definitively,” said Bilsky. “There has been a massive decline in kids’ activity level. The groups understood the delays so it could be done safely. It is in there best interest now to start sports soon.”

Bilsky said there has been no communication from the Department of Education about when, or if, the groups can get into facilities.

“These organizations want to be compliant and deliver programs safely,” said Bilsky. “These organizations will adapt programming. With no consultation, and only being told about delays, people are starting to speculate.”

Bilsky did acknowledge the “band-aid” solutions being offered, such as using CGC times, but that isn’t enough. Sports, she said, make a community vibrant.

“A huge number of groups rely on gyms to deliver programming and they want to contribute to the community,” said Bilsky. “Sports are a massive part of the health, both physical and mental, of a community. This needs to be a priority now.”

By not being able to deliver programming, Bilsky said the Yukon sports world will continue to suffer.

“We are at a crucial point,” she said. “This is when you start to lose coaches, athletes, and volunteers. We want to ensure athletes fill their time with healthy activities.”

Because there is a large time slot available in their schedule where sports would be, Bilsky said they will fill that time with something else, even potential at-risk activities.

“They need to be able to look forward to something,” said Bilsky.

“They need the structure that sport can bring and that is being taken away from them.”

In non-COVID times, Bilsky said user groups who use school facilities would end programming on Dec. 10 – that would leave two weeks of programming before shutting down for the holidays.

The Department of Education and City of Whitehorse were contacted for a comment but were unable to do so before publication.

The Department of Education through an email explained the situation with facility use after school hours.

“This school year, our first priority is the health and safety of students and school staff and ensuring schools remain low risk learning environments,” read the email.

“During the start of the school year, central administration staff have been supporting students and school staff to adapt and settle into their new health and safety routines.

“We have been working with the City of Whitehorse under the current context and have provided guidance to ensure after-hours use of school facilities follow the specific health and safety guidelines for school settings set by Yukon’s Chief Medical Office of Health, including proper cleaning and disinfecting.”

The email continued that the Department of Education expects to provide further updates directly to user groups.