Orillia city councillors take steps to reopen Rotary Place
City of Orillia councillors are taking steps to reopen Rotary Place after closing the recreational facility when a case of Legionnaires' disease was linked to the water cooling tower earlier this month.
The health unit had said the outbreak of Legionella that infected 35 people, claiming the life of one, no longer posed a risk to the community on Nov. 7; despite that, the City kept Rotary Place closed.
At a special meeting on Thursday, councillors authorized staff to execute an agreement for the costs associated with installing a temporary refrigeration system.
The City says the cost of the system can't exceed $425,000 and would be covered by funds from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve.
Since its closure, sports organizations that rely on the facility for ice time have scrambled to come up with alternatives.
"We understand the significant impact the loss of the ice at Rotary Place has had on our ice user groups," said Mayor Don McIsaac.
The City says it hopes to have the doors to Rotary Place reopened by early January with one ice pad for use, with the second available a few weeks later.
A more long-term solution for the facility's operation is expected to be presented to councillors for consideration next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Woman detained in Syria says Ottawa is forcing her to make agonizing choice in order to get her kids to Canada
A woman held in a detention camp in Syria, along with her three Canadian children, says the federal government is forcing her to make an agonizing choice: relinquish custody of her kids so they can be repatriated to Canada, or keep them in the camp where the conditions are dire. Her children are eligible for repatriation but she is not a Canadian citizen.

Loblaw ends No Name price freeze, vows 'flat' pricing 'wherever possible'
Loblaw will not be extending its price freeze on No Name brand products, but vows to keep the yellow label product-pricing flat 'wherever possible.'
Still no answers on yearslong bread price-fixing scandal: law professor
More than five years since Canada’s Competition Bureau began an investigation into an alleged bread-price fixing scheme, no conclusions have been drawn nor charges laid. As the watchdog is now probing whether grocery stores are profiting from inflation, one expert says the effectiveness of its tools are in question.
Health Canada conducts safety review on breastfeeding drug amid psychiatric concerns
Health Canada is reviewing the safety of domperidone amid reports that some breastfeeding mothers in Canada and the U.S. have had serious psychiatric symptoms when they tried to stop taking the drug.
Ukraine on mission to ban Russia from Paris Olympics
Ukraine hopes to secure widespread international support for banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Paris Olympics due to Moscow's invasion, the sports minister said on Tuesday.
Tyre Nichols case shows officers still fail to intervene
More disciplinary action may be coming now that the harrowing video of Tyre Nichols' treatment has been released. The Memphis police department is among many U.S. law enforcement agencies with 'duty to intervene' policies. Memphis police relieved two other officers of duty Monday and say the department is still investigating what happened.
Jeopardy! dedicates entire category to Ontario but one question stumps every contestant
Jeopardy! turned the spotlight on Ontario on Monday night with a category entirely dedicated to the province. One question stumped every contestant.
opinion | Don Martin: Trudeau meets the moment – and ducks for cover
Based on Justin Trudeau's first-day fail in the House of Commons, 'meeting the moment' is destined to become the most laughable slogan since the elder Pierre Trudeau’s disastrous campaign rallying cry in 1972, which insisted 'the land is strong' just as the economy tanked.
Banff National Park cave creature exists 'no where else': Parks Canada
A cave in Banff National Park has been recognized as a globally significant location thanks to a tiny creature found inside.