If the existing ice-skating surfaces are to be used in the future, the condition of the existing rink headers should be assessed. Any proposed changes in size or shape for the ice surfaces for the future will require demolition of the existing surfaces and headers, with new rink floor slabs and brine piping designed to suit the new layout. read more

Could you ask Capital Projects to send me (and publish):

1. The complete list of elements that don't "meet code" for the rink house as it is now, and the relevant code number 2. The specific list of bylaws and any other regulations that are not being adhered to currently at the rink (including the rink slabs and surroundings), referencing the problematic building element and the number of the bylaw or regulation. This should include information about which of those elements pose a risk to occupational health and safety, or where there is a concern about a future legal claim against the city. 3. The specific test/assessments carried out on the rink slabs that show they need "imminent replacement."

I hope that these will not be hard to track, since they must have been referenced by Capital Projects before they made the decision to renovate the rink.

I understand that Dufferin Grove Park is the property of the Corporation of the City of Toronto, and staff can decide what will happen. But it would be a good thing to have the grounds for staff decisions be made public.

I appreciate any help you can give to get me this information.

We have received the following response from the City of Toronto:

Please be advised that it is the City's responsibility to ensure its publicly accessed facilities are compliant to all current and applicable health and safety regulations, and codes including the Ontario Building Code, ASHRAE Energy Codes, Accessibility Guidelines, etc. As outlined in our first public meeting, numerous building systems (mechanical and electrical) within the Clubhouse have reached the end of their life cycle, as these systems all contribute to the safe use of the building, and they will be replaced in order to avoid system failure and disruption in use of the facility.

Most of the applicable codes and standards have been updated since the original construction, and compliance with the current code is a requirement of any renovation or replacement project. The work required for the replacement of these systems is significant, and it cannot be carried out while the building remains open.

With regard to the rink slab, the City obtained an assessment report in 2014 and an additional report in December 2018, confirming that the refrigeration equipment that operates Dufferin Grove Park's artificial ice rink is at the end of its 25-year life cycle, and identifies the risk of equipment failure.

The City's goal is to minimize the interruption of programs and rink use as a result of construction projects. Typically, we allocate budget for the replacement of both equipment and rink concrete slab at the same time to maximize efficiency and minimize disruption to the public.