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OPINION For 91 years, the Memorial Arena has been a part of Georgetown's history-- hockey games, reunions, homecomings, lacrosse, rollerskat- ing, gymnastics and lots more. It's where generation after generation of Georgetowners brought their young families to play. It's where girls met their beaus, and where the boys showed off for the girls. It's where a community cheered on their native sons and daughters. But on Sunday, Memorial Arena's legacy as an ice rink ended, and by the fall, after the summer sports season has ended, the vener- able old building will be demolished. Memorial Arena, known as one of the old- est rinks in Canada, was originally built as an outdoor rink in 1922, but was later enclosed. The building aged well, outliving its normal expectancy, by nearly 40 years. But age fi nally caught up and Town council had to make a decision to keep pouring millions of dollars into the single rink year after year or build pads onto the SportsPlex. The decision was made, and in September the two new pads at the SportsPlex will open and the Memorial Arena will be demolished. In December, the Town deemed the Memo- rial Arena property surplus and a consultant is now studying the best future use for the land. "In the '60s, this was the place to go in town, the place to hang out, both summer and win- ter," said Laurie MacKenzie. "In the summer I went roller skating with my future hubby Jim, and in the winter we attended hockey games and watched fi gure skating." Imagine Georgetown as a quilt; Memorial has been a piece of that fabric. It has been a good friend and, like a good friend, has left many of us a lifetime of memories. The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Edi- torial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Independent & Free Press Memorial memories Steve Nease Letters to the editor Dear editor, Re: wrestling being removed from the Olympics for 2020. I found it quite upsetting, but not surprising, as a former national team member, Olympic alter- nate and world masters medalist. Wrestling is one of the most inclu- sive sports in the world. It appeals to people of all sizes, body types, cultural backgrounds etc., and has since we inhabited caves. I believe 180 countries were represented at the last world cham- pionships. Twenty-nine different countries medalled in wrestling at the London Olympics. The venues were packed with spectators but there no huge sponsors and limited media coverage unless we were in a medal match. Wrestling rarely has big stars because it is so diffi cult to dominate year over year. The start-up costs are reasonable (mat, shoes, singlet) so wrestlers come from all walks of life. No weaponry; just your own fi tness, strength and technical skills and strategy, mano-a-mano, athlete-on- athlete. Wrestlers are generally the feel good story of the Games for Canada (Tonya Verbeek, Carolyn Huynh, Daniel Igali, Gia Sisouri, Christine Nordhagen). I had my dreams crushed in 1980 after earning a trip to the Moscow Olympics as the alternate and train- ing partner only to be boycotted. My career path to the top never fully recovered. I can imagine how crushed some of the 16-24 year olds are today that would be ripe for medal success in 2020-- Canadian role models who may never get the chance. Only strong international pres- sure from the media and competing countries can get these privileged IOC nobles to reverse the decision. Spike Adams, Head of Athletics, HALE & Technology, Acton High School Letters policy 905-873-0301 Publisher: Dana Robbins General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@theifp.ca) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifi eds Kristie Pells (classifi ed@theifp.ca) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Earth Hour is Saturday, March 23. What's your take on it? • A great idea to promote saving energy (40%) • A nice idea..but it's time has past (33%) • A silly idea that accomplishes nothing (27%) WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.theifp.ca) Wrestling's removal makes no sense Dog owners' inaction horrifi es trail user Letters must include an address and daytime phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. Email: jmcghie@theifp.ca Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. •T he I FP • H al to n H ill s •T ue sd ay , M ar ch 1 9, 2 01 3 6 Dear editor, Last week I hiked the trail named after me in Scotsdale Farm. I was horrifi ed to discover it has turned into a dogs' toilet! Almost the entire trail is lit- tered with dog excrement. It is quite disgusting. Why do dog owners not pick up after their pets in the winter? What do they think will hap- pen when the snow melts? That someone will come along and shovel it all up and take it away. I think not. To dog owners, please think of other hikers and walkers, pick up and take away-- and don't drop the plastic bag by the park- ing area, take it home with you. 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