Second ammonia leak delays reopening of Weyburn's Crescent Point Place and arena

The City of Weyburn has revealed that Crescent Point Place and the Tom Zandee Sports Arena will remain closed – following a second ammonia leak in the facility’s ice plant chiller.

The leak has pushed back the reopening of the facility into the new year, according to a news release from the City of Weyburn, published Tuesday.

The chiller, which was purchased and installed for the 2023/24 season, had passed pressure testing following recent repairs and had been running without issue for the past week.

“These tests exceeded the normal operating pressures of the system, and the chiller had been functioning as expected for the past week,” the release read.

“Despite these measures, the chiller experienced another failure.”

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The failure occurred at around 5:30 p.m. on Monday. An ammonia leak was detected, which forced all activities to stop.

The city had intended to begin allowing light skating sessions on Tuesday, with plans to gradually increase to a full schedule of ice use by Friday, Dec. 13.

Director of Leisure Services Andrew Crowe noted in the release that city staff and contractors had been working “tirelessly” over the past week to rebuild the ice and prepare for reopening.

“This outcome is deeply disappointing,” he said.

“Our team is devastated after putting in countless hours, often working late into the night, doing everything possible to get the facilities ready. We were all excited to welcome skaters back into our arenas, and this setback is not the outcome anyone hoped for.”

With the chiller under repair, the ice must now be removed. A specific timeline for repairs is not yet known, according to the city.

“While this situation is both unexpected and frustrating, the city is focused on finding a permanent resolution to ensure the safety and reliability of the arena systems,” the release read.

“We appreciate the community’s understanding and support as we work through this process.”

The city ended off by promising to provide further updates as the situation is dealt with.

The arena’s closure has had widespread effects for local sports.

The Southland Co-op Centre in Assiniboia put out a call for billets for the 23 players of the Weyburn Red Wings on Thursday – citing the ammonia leak and the fact that the team has no place to practice or play currently.

The billet period covers Dec. 11 to Dec. 22.

"They [the Redwings] are possibly moving their games and practices to Assiniboia if they can find room for everyone," the post read.