Canada Centre may close

EDGAR ASHER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN

There was a festive atmosphere at the Israel Ice Skating Federation's National Championship at Metulla's Canada Centre last week. But, despite the joyful atmosphere, there is clearly a serious worry that the centre, which was opened in 1990, may have to close down due to serious funding problems.

The centre, which is unique in Israel, was one of the major projects of the United Israel Appeal of Canada (UIAC). The UIAC is still the official owner of the centre and continues its financial support of the cash-strapped sports complex. The centre has both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, basketball and squash courts, a fully equipped fitness and health club, shooting range, bowling alley and last but not least, the jewel in the crown, the only Olympic-size ice-skating rink in the Middle East.

Avie Arenson, one of Israel's largest general contractors, who was born in Winnipeg and came to live in Israel in 1962, was elected last month to be the chair of the Canada Centre. Arenson took over following the death early last year of the former chairman, Metulla mayor Yossi Goldberg.

"My job right now is to justify the ongoing activities of the Canada Centre," Arenson said. "The centre is accepted by the local people in Metulla and the area, but we have to convince the Israeli government and the Ministry of Sport and Culture and the various funding bodies that there is a place for Canada Centre. My job, like most chairmen's jobs, is not to teach the kids how to skate but to get the money for their teachers."

The Canada Centre is the main hub for community activity in Metulla, Israel's northernmost town. School children come from a large catchment area, as far away as Haifa, to use some of the centre's many facilities. The growing appeal of ice sports in Israel can really only satisfy those who live in the north of the country and travel to Metulla in a reasonable time. Arenson is of the opinion that if ice sports are to develop on a national scale then there should be a similar complex to the Canada Centre in the heavily populated centre of the country. The two centres would compliment each other and encourage a national interest in ice sports.

"The centre is like all the rest of Israel and, in particular, the border area, which has seen a tremendous drop in the number of visitors using the facilities," Arenson pointed out. "Last year, compared with 2001, 25 per cent fewer visitors came to the centre and 2001 was a bad year also. As a result, the centre is running into a very large deficit. It's unfortunately far from thriving; in fact it is in danger of being shut down."

Last week, a few enthusiastic spectators came to watch the Israeli ice dance champions Galit Chait and Sergie Sakhnovsky who, not unexpectedly, won the national title. They were presented with a special award from the Israel Olympic Committee when they were named Outstanding Sportsmen for 2002
following their tremendous performance in the last winter Olympics. For a few days, anyway, the financial problems of the Canada Centre were left under the ice.

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