The process of putting ice into Affinity Place begun last week. Rod March, City of Estevan's Parks and Facilities Manager, Explains the process, "The entire progress to get the ice ready to the final stage takes about twelve to fifteen days. The first couple days we're just pebble coating, that takes about twenty coats and what we're doing is trying to get the initial water to stick to the concrete, so there is a suitable solid surface to work from."

" That is followed by what we call Wand flooding, then boom flooding, then we are into the fifth day with twenty of those a day to build up ice; even then the ice is only at a quarter inch thickness. "

"Once we reach that point within a week, we'll be looking at painting the ice white; the paint freezes to the ice instantly, and that's when we install the logos and decals. After that is done we continue to boom flood with cold water, so we don't melt into those logos, and we continue to boom flood until about day ten then we start to use the zamboni. "

"Once we use the zamboni we can begin to raise the level of the ice quickly. We need to get the ice to about an inch before we use the zamboni, so we protect the logos and everything then we start using warm water to build the ice up to an inch and a half; then it's ready for hockey or any other ice sport."

March goes on to say that the whole process is quite in-depth and technical. They make sure all their equipment is running correctly, so there are no problems as well as the ice is up to the standards, and there is no ice chipping away. They also have a water softening system so they can make clear ice so the logos and decals can be seen clearly. Soon the Ice will be ready for the skaters.