Photo: Hanna council approved gradual fee increases for several municipal recreation facilities and programs, effective Oct. 1. Ball diamond concession and tennis court charges were excluded pending further review and user consultation. Screenshot

Hanna town council approved a series of fee increases for municipal recreation facilities, programs and services during its regular council meeting held Aug. 11, with the new rates scheduled to take effect Oct. 1.

The changes are contained in Policy 2026-05, which was recommended by the Community Services Board following its June 29 meeting.

During council’s discussion, Community Services representatives said the board tries to balance affordability with the need to recover some of the cost of operating municipal facilities.

The board works toward approximately 50 per cent cost recovery where possible but recognizes that recreation facilities and programs are rarely profitable. Financial information from 2025 showed the ball diamonds, soccer fields and Lions Hall recovering less than 30 per cent of their operating costs.

The board reviewed prices in neighbouring communities, the length of time since individual fees were last increased, users’ ability to absorb higher costs and the town’s cost-recovery levels.

Community Services co-ordinator Michele Toews said the board prefers modest, regular adjustments instead of waiting until a much larger increase becomes necessary.

“Small predictable increases are much easier for user groups to pick up than having to do the large hits,” Toews said.

Council excluded proposed ball diamond concession and tennis court fees from the approved schedule. Those charges will undergo further review because of the number of variables involved and the need for additional discussions with user groups.

At the swimming pool, the price of an adult season pass will increase from $140 to $145. A senior pass will rise from $95 to $100 and a family pass will increase from $245 to $250. The youth season pass will remain unchanged.

Fees for Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, Standard First Aid, National Lifeguard Pool and swim instructor courses will each increase by $5. The Hanna Seals seasonal fee will rise five per cent, from $5,000 to $5,250.

Arena and curling rink summer rental fees will increase by approximately 20 per cent. The town said those rates have not been updated in more than five years.

A summer large-event rental for a non-profit organization will increase from $520 to $625 per day. The non-profit small-event rate will rise from $55 to $65 per hour, with the daily maximum increasing from $290 to $350.

The commercial large-event rate will increase from $635 to $760 per day. Commercial small-event rentals will rise from $85 to $100 per hour, with the daily maximum increasing from $350 to $420.

The daily rate for a non-local commercial rental will rise from $1,200 to $1,440.

No changes were approved for arena advertising rates because the town is conducting a broader review of sponsorship opportunities. The policy will also eliminate separate tournament and off-hours winter rates and combine the minor hockey and figure skating rates, which are already the same.

The seasonal fee paid by minor baseball will increase from $2,500 to $3,000. The board attributed the change to higher diamond maintenance costs and the use of indoor facilities during inclement weather.

At Fox Lake Park, the daily camp kitchen rental will rise from $65 to $75.

The policy will simplify community centre rentals by eliminating separate rates for the auditorium, large meeting room, craft room and bar. A full-facility rate of $150 per hour will be introduced for rentals lasting four hours or less.

The board reported that renters often use kitchens, washrooms and other areas outside the room they book, requiring staff to clean the entire facility. Pre-event and post-event access will increase from $115 to $150 each, or $300 for both.

A full-day Lions Hall rental will increase from $150 to $175, while a half-day rental of up to four hours will rise from $75 to $100.

At Centennial Place, the youth fieldhouse rental rate will increase from $50 to $75 per hour. The adult fieldhouse rate will rise from $75 to $100 per hour.

EPIC Adventures fees will also increase for the first time since 2010. The daily out-of-school care rate will rise from $35 to $40, the weekly rate from $125 to $150 and the monthly rate from $450 to $500.

Town representatives noted that several programs are available to help qualifying families and organizations manage recreation costs. Those programs include KidSport, the Hanna Community Youth Fund, Prescription to Get Active and the provincial hosting grant program.

Mayor Danny Povaschuk moved that council approve the Schedule of Fees and Charges for municipal facilities and programs as presented, excluding the ball diamond concession and tennis court fees for further review.