Local volunteers, Calgary Flames get Fernie, B.C., skaters on ice again 2 months after tragic ammonia leak

The people of Fernie, B.C., hosted a bittersweet celebration Thursday the opening of a new outdoor ice rink two months after their community arena closed under tragic circumstances.

In October, an ammonia leak killed three men in the close-knit community.The town's recreational services directorLloyd Smith, 52,chief facility operator WayneHornquist, 59, and refrigeration specialist JasonPodloski, 46, died when investigating an alarm early in the morning on Oct. 17 at theFernieMemorial Arena.

The NHL-sized rink came to be through a donation from the Calgary Flames Foundation and a lot of hard work from people in the community.

• 'Tight-knit community' of Fernie, B.C., mourns 3 dead in arena ammonia leak
• Fernie mayor thanks Flames for 'beautiful gesture' of outdoor rink after 3 men died in ammonia leak

"We jumped at the chance because that offer meant so muchat a time when the entire community was devastated. Wegot this wonderful piece of good news and this wonderful gesture, this great offer," said FernieMayor Mary Giuliano.

The Flames Foundationdonated boards, penalty boxes, player benches and a time keeper box, whileFernieLions Clubco-ordinatedthe offer and found local businesses to donate supplies and skilled labour to the project.

A loonie was buried at centre ice, in honour of the memory of the three lives lost.

At the opening ceremony, hundreds of locals of all ages laced up to enjoy the ice, while the volunteers, who spent weeks building the arena,beamed.

"It was all about having a place for the kids to skate before Christmas. That was the driver and then here we are," said Chuck Shoesmith, who helped build the rink.

The new rink means local hockey teams and skating clubs will no longer have to drive tothe B.C. towns of Elkford and Sparwoodfor donated ice times.

Cory Caldwell who plays for city's minor hockey teamtheGhostridersgrew up in Fernie and knows what something as simple as a rink means to the community.

"We're like any other winter town, we've got the ski hill here and everything but a majority of the activity in the winter involves the curling rink, the hockey rink and it is our home in the wintertime," he said.