THE NORTH Coast Nightmares roller derby team won a different kind of bout last week, this one of the administrative kind.
Team representative Jessica Hogg was successful in her request to city council on August 31 to have a $750 rental fee waived for an event scheduled August 31 at the Terrace Sportsplex – a bout against the visiting Dawson Creek team Zero Mile Mercy.
“It is our hope to foster a mutually beneficial relationship with the community,” Hogg said as she told council about the growing sport, making note that paying for out-of-town referees and hosting the visiting team can be incredibly expensive. The sport is only a few years old in Terrace, and the hope is that once more people see what the sport is about, more people will join in.
Hogg said the team will offer a sponsorship package to the city in return, and added the Nightmares had donated money from their own fundraising to community programs.
Director of leisure services Carmen Didier had already lowered the rink rental from the traditional $1,500 rate, and there was discussion over what kind of precedent waiving the entire fee would set for with regards to future requests.
“To me, there is a bit of an issue about where to draw the line,” said mayor David Pernarowski, referencing a previous decision to decline a similar request by the Terrace Motocross Association.
But he noted that the Nightmares had strong support around the council table, including councillors Brian Downie and Stacey Tyers, who both spoke in favour of waving the fee.
“The cost to bring in six refs – even from Prince George – it's quite an expense just because we don't have the capacity here,” said Tyers. “But as they grow the sport, they can grow that capacity.”
She also noted it's important for council to support up-and-coming initiatives.
“We support a lot of things that have been financially stable for years and I think it's a good idea to support something up-and-coming,” she said, noting it would provide them with the opportunity to showcase themselves to the community, and grow the sport.
The Nightmares are also looking for a new surface for practice and scrimmage. Currently they use outdoor tennis courts on Kalum, and have used the Hawkair hanger in the past.
“There are simply not enough facilities to support roller derby,” Hogg said.
The team is also hopeful it might gain access to the Thornhill Jr. Secondary school gym, which has been being used by community sport groups since the school closed last year.
Councillor James Cordiero excused himself from the debate and vote, as he employs members of the roller derby team and has financially supported them in the past.