How about that late bit of news we got on Tuesday afternoon?
It was like one of those Friday night news dumps we in the wonderful world of journalism love oh-so-much but it was an e-mail that caught my attention before I flew out the door (no, I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 fly SA国际影视传媒� that would be fake news). Cindi Vaselenak, superintendent of Yellowknife Education District No. 1, sent me some follow-up correspondence from earlier in the day telling me that the board would be allowing user groups with an exemption from the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer to begin using Yk1SA国际影视传媒檚 school gymnasiums beginning Nov. 8.
The exception to that rule is N.J. Macpherson, which wonSA国际影视传媒檛 open its doors until Nov. 15, following the positive Covid-19 case registered earlier this week. Vaselenak confirmed that date with me on Thursday.
In talking with some other people around the city, it appears thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the case for all three school boards and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 reason enough to rejoice. Everyone was preparing for Dec. 1 and by that time, it would have been a case of forget it altogether.
It means the Yk Basketball Association can have something resembling a season. It means the Yk Volleyball Association can hit the courts and play some kind of league games. It means the NWT Futsal League has an idea of when it can begin playing this season, averting the plan to postpone things indefinitely.
Here I was preparing to tell you all that it was outdoors or bust, meaning the Yellowknife Ski Club and Bristol Pit would be the places to be this year. Not that they wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be in a normal scenario SA国际影视传媒� cross-country skiing, biathlon and snowboarding are wonderful activities that go along nicely with hockey, basketball and volleyball SA国际影视传媒� but like those summer sports that have benefitted greatly from the pandemic (looking at you tennis, golf and softball), those venues would have been rather full simply because it would have been among the few things people could actually do.
ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 some good news on the horizon as it appears the Yk Rec Hockey League will be rolling out its new season as of Saturday evening. The Yk Oldtimers Hockey League approved its vaccine policy on Wednesday after receiving its exemption to play and will get going this coming Tuesday, Nov. 2. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 a sigh of relief, for sure, as there was plenty of hoping and waiting and wishing and wondering and we all know what happens when you wish in one hand and SA国际影视传媒� exactly.
The only worry now is what will happen to school sports. No word on whatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on, at least officially, but ISA国际影视传媒檝e heard from more than one source that there will be nothing moving ahead until at least after Christmas. Again, itSA国际影视传媒檚 a glimmer of hope but hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a really good chance for this vaccine passport to come into play. Anyone over the age of 11 will be able to get one SA国际影视传媒� my 12-year-old daughter has hers SA国际影视传媒� so that should take care of any questions about whoSA国际影视传媒檚 double-vaxxed and who isnSA国际影视传媒檛.
And letSA国际影视传媒檚 not forget that we have the Canada Summer Games happening in OntarioSA国际影视传媒檚 Niagara region in August 2022. Teams need places to practice before then, even though itSA国际影视传媒檚 still many months away. The outdoor event athletes and coaches donSA国际影视传媒檛 need to worry about gyms and such but sending volleyball, basketball and wrestling teams with very little practice will ensure an absolute drubbing.
And so we wait, like weSA国际影视传媒檝e been doing since March 2020, but at least thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a bit of light at the end of the tunnel on this one. It means we may get a Wade Hamer Challenge Cup this year. It means we may have a Canadian North Rec Hockey Tournament this season. It means we can have some fun, and we need some fun.
