Wellington North waives club room fee for Patriots

KENILWORTH – Wellington North council is waiving a $725 club dressing room fee for the Mount Forest Patriots Jr. C hockey team.

“Anything would help,” team secretary Lisa Weber told council during a presentation about the team.

Operating since 1987, the team became a community-owned not-for-profit in 2014, and has since gone on to win five division titles.

“Something to be extremely proud of,” Weber remarked.

Players and staff commit time to community initiatives and special awareness nights for local causes and organizations, council heard.

“On any given Saturday night, we have approximately 300 to 400 people in attendance,” Weber told council.

During playoffs, the arena reaches capacity, Weber added, pitching game nights as a local economic driver.

Weber asked for support as the team vies for an earlier 7pm ice time on game nights at the team’s Mount Forest and District Sports Complex home base.

Councillor Sherry Burke said she would prefer the team direct fee waiver requests through the same stream as others but was supportive of the requests.

Township CAO Brooke Lambert said staff are supportive of the one-off ask, and would consider waiving the dressing room fee on an ongoing basis.

“There are various user groups that do have discounted options and we would bring that forward back in the user fee and charges bylaw,” Brooke said.

Councillor Penny Renken said the team’s contribution goes beyond sport, noting, “They’re also giving back to the community, they’re very community oriented.”