A request from the Williams Lake Bantam Timberwolves for funding of $1,500 has been turned down by city council.
In a letter dated March 5, the team wrote a letter requesting money to help with team travel costs of $15,000 to attend the provincials in Kelowna.
Team manager Michelle Palmer said when the team hosted an eight-team tournament on Feb. 15 to 17, it lost about $3,000 because of the city union worker strike.
“We had to reimburse four teams $275 each for a total of $1,100 because they did not get the four ice times they were promised,” Palmer noted, adding the raffle draws were also cut off early due to the complex being closed.
At Tuesday’s council meeting Coun. Ivan Bonnel said council does not have the ability to to grant funds except through its grant-in-aid program and that takes place in the fall.
“And those grants have to be for something that’s going to take place, not something that has already happened,” he said.
Mayor Kerry Cook said it was unfortunate timing that the team had lost money because of the strike.
“We wish them the best, but this was one of many teams that were inconvenienced and lost out during the job action. It’s a tough decision.”
Under the contract terms and conditions, the city is not liable to the licensee if the licensee is denied access to the facility due to a labour dispute, mechanical failure or other cause.
Coun. Surinerdpal Rathor added if the city were to help one group it would be “opening a can of worms.”
In a letter dated March 5, the team wrote a letter requesting money to help with team travel costs of $15,000 to attend the provincials in Kelowna.
Team manager Michelle Palmer said when the team hosted an eight-team tournament on Feb. 15 to 17, it lost about $3,000 because of the city union worker strike.
“We had to reimburse four teams $275 each for a total of $1,100 because they did not get the four ice times they were promised,” Palmer noted, adding the raffle draws were also cut off early due to the complex being closed.
At Tuesday’s council meeting Coun. Ivan Bonnel said council does not have the ability to to grant funds except through its grant-in-aid program and that takes place in the fall.
“And those grants have to be for something that’s going to take place, not something that has already happened,” he said.
Mayor Kerry Cook said it was unfortunate timing that the team had lost money because of the strike.
“We wish them the best, but this was one of many teams that were inconvenienced and lost out during the job action. It’s a tough decision.”
Under the contract terms and conditions, the city is not liable to the licensee if the licensee is denied access to the facility due to a labour dispute, mechanical failure or other cause.
Coun. Surinerdpal Rathor added if the city were to help one group it would be “opening a can of worms.”