The Lucknow & District Recreation Department is looking for a new instructor to keep its Learn to Skate program running this fall.
Facility Manager and Recreation Co-ordinator Steve Bushell says the program has been offered for several years, but the instructor who had been leading it is no longer available because of other commitments.
"We've run the program for a few years here and the instructor from the previous three or four years is just no longer available for this due to other family commitments and things like that," said Bushell.
The recreation department has been advertising for a replacement for about a month without finding anyone.
Bushell says the program typically begins around the start of October, meaning time is beginning to run short.
"We still need to run a registration. However, without having an instructor in place, we can't really run a registration until we have that," he said. "So we do need probably in the next week or so to find somebody."
If an instructor isn't found soon, Bushell says there may not be enough time to hold registration and organize the program for this season.
Learn to Skate is geared toward children roughly three to 10 years old and focuses on introducing them to the basics of skating.
"The program is just teaching anybody the basics of skating, how to get on the skates, how to get away from the skating aids, get away from the parents and then be able to work on some of those skills themselves," said Bushell.
The program can also help prepare young skaters to move into hockey, figure skating, or recreational skating.
Bushell says the recreation department would ideally like someone who has previous experience teaching or assisting with skating programs.
"They don't necessarily need any certifications for it, but past experience in teaching skating is kind of an asset," he said.
The instruction is focused on basic skills such as skating forward and backward, turning and becoming comfortable on the ice rather than advanced skating techniques.
Bushell says the hope is to find someone soon enough to keep the program running this fall.
"Hopefully we can find somebody to fill that spot and keep the program growing," he said. "If not, we'll continue to look and hopefully be able to bring it back next year if we can't get something for this year."
