A beloved and popular recreation spot for generations of small town residents is no more after the 54-year old curling rink in the village of Strongfield was ravaged and flattened in the wake of a savage wind storm that swept through the area on Thursday night, July 20.
The iconic location, built in 1963, was a staple for many in the tiny rural community, with rink suppers and curling games taking place every Monday night from January to March, when the facility was open.
The rink proved to be no match for the powerful winds that came with Thursday's storm, and just after 8:00 pm, a plough wind targeted the longstanding structure and leveled it within mere minutes.
A damage survey conducted by Environment Canada the following day in the Strongfield and Outlook area narrowed down the exact type of storm fury that destroyed the curling rink.
"The damage was confirmed to have been caused by a bow echo, which is known to produce very strong straight-line winds," read a statement issued by the weather agency.
No evidence of a tornado was found, it added.
The loss of the rink is a big hit to the people of Strongfield, especially since the income generated from it allowed for other amenities to be taken care of.
"It's devastating to the community," said Amanda Glubis, president of the rink board. "We operate basically ten days out of the year, and we get enough to pay the operating expenses for the hall and the rink, and those are very busy days."
With three sheets of natural ice, the rink attracted people from other villages such as Broderick, as well as the surrounding communities on Line 19 such as Hawarden, Elbow and Mistusinne.
Every February, kids from Loreburn Central School held their annual Tin Can Bonspiel at the rink; an event eagerly anticipated by youngsters, teachers and parents alike.
The damage managed to rip off the northern part of the rink that housed the curling ice, but it left the viewing and kitchen areas largely intact with minimal damage.
The loss of the curling rink isn't the first time that Strongfield has suffered from a major weather event, as a tornado managed to tear the end off the community hall around five years ago.
Community members in Strongfield worked together to clear the road of debris after the wind storm, and Friday was basically a clean-up day to see what could be salvaged and what the financial picture was going to look like.
"We have insurance, but the cost to rebuild nowadays is probably hundreds of thousands of dollars; we don't know just yet," said Glubis.
It's unsure just how the village will proceed with any rebuilding efforts, as their insurance on the rink is limited. One idea being talked about is incorporating the curling rink into the hockey rink side, which was still standing after the storm. Another avenue that might be explored is a Go Fund Me crowdfunding web page to gather financial support.
Events such as this go to show that regardless of the generational history and popularity of any longtime community hub, Mother Nature is capable of striking a critical blow wherever she sees fit.
