It seems absurd to
continue maintaining St. Bon's Forum using public donations when
the aging rink has had problems for years. The site of the former Canadian Tire on Elizabeth Avenue is large enough for a two-pad arena with about as much outdoor parking as is there now. (The Canadian Tire building is approximately 320 by 170 feet, whereas a single NHL-sized ice surface is 200 by 85 feet). If necessary, additional parking could be provided by removing the right-turn lane from Torbay Road to Elizabeth Avenue and converting the outer lane of Elizabeth Avenue to metered parking between Torbay Road and New Cove Road. The parking would also provide much-needed traffic-calming. The net gain of one ice surface after closing St. Bon's forum and the diversification of the neighbourhood near Torbay Road and Elizabeth Avenue would be major advantages compared to maintaining the existing rink.