Last month, the BOR ice arena in Barre, Vt., announced that it would not open its doors for the winter season for the first time in more than 50 years, citing equipment failure and leaks.
But the local community could not allow one of their most important traditions to cease. According to VtDigger, dozens of local tradesmen volunteered their labor and parts to complete the estimated $2 million of repairs needed at BOR and the arena opened on schedule.
Related: Vermont Ice Arena to Close, Citing Half-Century-Old Equipment Failure
BOR was built in the 1970s with equipment that had a lifespan of 20 to 25 years. That equipment, including the rink’s cooling system, was no longer functional when city officials announced the rink would not open this season. During testing in September, several leaks were discovered. Barre’s city manager Patrick Cushing estimated that fixing the floor would cost $2 million.
The volunteer brigade was led by Trym Chouinard, the owner of a local general contracting company whose family donated money to build the rink back in the 1970s. His children now play hockey and practice figure skating at BOR. That personal connection is common among many of the tradesmen who came to fix the arena.
Chouinard told VtDigger that roughly 20 volunteers worked on the arena for over 160 hours and local businesses donated materials or provided steep discounts. Many of those people grew up skating at BOR or their children do now.
“There were 14 plumbers in this trench right here from different companies in central [Vermont],” said Chouinard. “They all compete for the same jobs, get what I’m saying? But they’re all standing here together, working together for a common cause.”
The broken pipes were repaired, the arena was given a fresh coat of paint, and crews froze a bright layer of ice on the rink.
“You need to have this stay as a community rink,” Chouinard said.
