Melnyk offers Canadian Tire Centre for COVID-19 care
Nine parking lots, 17 unleased suites, three Sensplex arenas made available
Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has offered the free use of the Canadian Tire Centre, its parking lots and possibly three Sensplex arenas as temporary care centres to fight the COVID -19 pandemic.
A spokesman for the team said the offer of roughly 200,000 square feet of adaptable space was made to the Ontario government earlier this week.
The offer made available any of the nine parking lots, which hold about 7,000 cars, some or all of about 17 unleased suites and other space in the arena and concourse areas. Melnyk, the spokesman said, would also staff the areas so that the CTC’s critical infrastructure would be kept running and loading docks kept operational.
A related Senators corporation would also make available space in three Sensplex arenas: on Shefford Road in the east end, on the Carp Road near Kinburn and on Maple Grove Road near the CTC in Kanata.
The club confirmed the offer was for space for a temporary or even “field” hospital, quarantine or isolation rooms, or whatever type of clinic would be appropriate should a surge in patients overwhelm the regular health system.
Just as the NHL season was being put on hold, the Sens and their concession provider Aramark, also donated about 1,700 pounds of food to the Ottawa Food Bank. This included perishables like milk, cheese, eggs and butter, as well as produce like potatoes, onions, cucumbers, apples and snacks.
The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound effect on the team. Not only was the NHL season paused on March 12, with 11 games remaining, but five players, a staff member and a travelling broadcaster all tested positive for the virus. The NHL has recommended players and staff self-quarantine until April 15.
Just this week, the Senators reduced their workforce, as no games are on the horizon and events at the CTC have been postponed or cancelled for months. The office of Premier Doug Ford is aware of Melnyk’s offer but, as of Friday, it was unclear how much, if any, of the possible donated space would be needed.
Health authorities have already converted D. Aubrey Moodie Intermediate School in Bells Corners into an urgent-care clinic for those suffering from respiratory ailments. If the need arises, a second such clinic is being prepared under the wing of the Montfort Hospital in the east end. It is difficult to accurately predict how many COVID -19 cases Ottawa will have across the pandemic but some estimates are in the range of 1,500 to 5,000. As of Friday, there were 289 known cases reported to Ottawa Public Health.