EDMONTON- A world renowned figure skating club in our city is in danger of closing its doors.
The Royal Glenora Skating Club has been operating in Edmonton for over 50 years. It has been called home by many figure skating greats including Kurt Browning, Kristi Yamaguchi and Jamie Sale.
"The skating area has put the Glenora Club and Edmonton on the map, internationally, in sport," Sale explained.
But, after all these years the arena is beginning to show its age.
"We're cognizant of the fact that the facility is six or seven years past its design life cycle," explained Jeremy Thiessen, the President of the Board of Directors at the Royal Glenora Club. "We've had some experts look at our ice plant, our compressors, things of that nature and they are six or seven years past the design life cycle and as such, we feel that continuing to operate would be putting our skaters in harms way."
"As of now, we're scheduled to shut down on May 31," added Thiessen.
The club would need at least $2 million to continue to operate, a price tag the board says it can't afford after other recent renovations.
"On the backs of a $15 million renewal program that the club undertook, at this time we don't feel that there is appetite amongst our membership for an additional $2 million to $4 million capital project," Thiessen explained.
News of the impending closure has hit hard for those who use the club on a daily basis.
"I was shocked. I was a little bit in denial," said Andrea Cohen, whose children are part of the skating club.
"It's definitely disheartening to hear that we might lose what, historically, has been one of our top skating clubs," explained Denise Fisher, Executive Director of Skate Canada.
Fisher says it will not only impact the development of skaters in the Edmonton area, but the development of coaches and officials.
"The Glenora has been home to many of Canada's top coaches and that's shot off into areas such as officiating and leadership."
The skating community is working on every effort to fundraise the money, in hopes of saving their beloved skate club.
"I think this is the time to get creative, lets look at all of the resources," said Fisher.
"We're not asking to build another Rexall. $2 million, I think, is reasonable and I think that we can do that," added Sale.
Members are hopeful something can be done, but know time is not on their side.
"Up until the last minute, we'll be keeping our fingers crossed tightly that a solution can be found," said Fisher.
"No one is taking away these kids' passion. No one is saying that they can't skate. So, we will persevere," said Cohen. "We're strong, we're a team and we stick together and we will never let the name Royal Glenora die."
If the money is raised, it would still need to be given approval by club membership. More than 70 percent of members would have to be in favour of spending the money on the skating club.
With files from Ross Neitz, Global News.
© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2013.