It’s more than just a road hockey tournament.
An event where “families can cheer on their grandpas, dads or brothers” is a more accurate description, Town special events programmer Dawn Stevens says of the Comox Cup Road Hockey tournament held each year at the start of summer.
The recreation department is requesting Comox Avenue be closed from Port Augusta to Stewart from 7 p.m June 16 to 8 a.m. June 20.
At Wednesday’s committee of the whole meeting, Coun. Ken Grant proposed closing the road from 6 a.m on the Friday until 7 p.m. on the Sunday of the event. His motion passed unanimously and will appear before council.
“We’re working with the Shellfish Festival to make this work,” said Grant, noting staff’s suggestion that the requested closure is too extensive.
Alternate sites are difficult to find. Staff considered holding the tournament at the east parking lot at Marina Park but realized the area would be too congested with the festival, which occurs at the same time.
About 240 players and upwards of 1,000 spectators are expected at the tournament, which Grant said will be a huge draw for the downtown core. The business sector, he notes, will gain from the experience, though the concept is not so simple for restaurateurs competing for business with vendors.
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The committee received a report from consultant Andrew Gower about the Regional Water Supply Strategy.
In terms of consolidated infrastructure, the least costly option would add Cumberland and Royston to the Comox Lake supply while Union Bay retains Langley Lake. This would cost $147 million over 50 years.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com