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Ice Ice Baby.

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The ice at Weston Lions Recreation Arena has been saved and now the province is involved with both the City of Toronto and MLSE in its future.

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The 76-year-old facility, which needs million of dollars in repairs, was originally going to lose that ice after the Weston Minor Hockey League (WMHL) 2025-2026 season and be redeveloped.

Now Toronto Councillor Frances Nunziata, who represents York South-Weston, announced on Saturday in a joint statement from her office that the city, the province and MLSE “are partnering to deliver a made-in-Weston solution.”

“A revitalized Weston Lions Arena will feature a renewed ice pad and a full sports-based program that will be built adjacent to the arena to serve the local community first while protecting the arena’s heritage features,” said Nunziata in the statement.

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“Discussions also include further improvements to the outdoor sport facilities in Weston Lions Park.”

Nunziata said she, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, MPP Mohamed Firin and MLSE CEO Keith Pelley, “have listened to the passionate advocacy for investment in Weston’s future and especially its young people through a expanded partnership.”

Still, Joseph Chiummiento from the group, Save Weston Arena, calls it a “partial win for sure,” with some concerns remaining.

Decision important for hockey and for Weston

“I think it’s important to the hockey community and it’s important to the Weston community, we’re really happy that Premier Ford took up the challenge,” he said.

“I think it’s a good thing. I think it’s a great thing that MLSE is coming in and the community is getting both (sports) programing and they decided to keep the ice and support the local community drive to save it.”

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Chiummiento says the remaining concerns are about the future role and solvency of the Lions Club after running the arena for 76 years, and the lack of consultation with user groups (four senior leagues, two hockey organizations and a school) who initially felt like they weren’t being heard.

“They’re in the same situation now wondering if they’ll have ice at the end of the year, and some of those user groups have been there for 50 years,” he said.

More will be known over the coming months as a design for the site is solidified and the plans will be shared publicly in the second quarter of this year.

“As MLSE works in partnership with the province and the city to support both the Weston Lions Arena and the surrounding Weston community, the aim of this expanded partnership is to preserve the ice rink as a focal part of the arena, while supporting the revitalization of the facility and delivering life-changing programming to benefit the community,” said Pelley in a statement.

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Added Ford in a statement: “We look forward to MLSE sharing its finalized plans for the project, which will provide new resources to respond to the changing needs of this rapidly growing region while also preserving the original facility the community has valued for 76 years.”

In addition to “ongoing” working discussions with Ford and Pelley, Nunziata said she is also working to involve the federal government and has the support of Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.

“I thank Councillor Nunziata for her leadership in advancing a transformative, youth-focused multi-sport project at the Weston Lions Arena site,” said Chow in a statement.

jstevenson@postmedia.com

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