The fundraising campaign for the Credit Union CUPlex got a much-needed boost from the Bank of Montreal Thursday.
BMO Financial announced its contribution of $100,000 to the CUPlex project Thursday. A mock cheque in that amount was presented by branch manager Megan Hermiston and the rest of the staff at BMO in North Battleford to fundraising committee co-chairs Rob Rongve and Heath Gabruch.
The contribution goes towards sponsoring one of the soccer pitches in the field house.
"Certainly it's an incredible amount of support from BMO," said Gabruch. "To have that kind of support in our community is huge."
He credited Hermiston for being "instrumental" in pursuing the contribution and making sure the commitment was fulfilled.
Gabruch says the Raise the Roof fundraising effort is now at the $9.5 million mark, only half a million short of their $10 million goal.
A number of other fundraising initiatives are still ongoing, and a further announcement is pending about a new fundraising campaign effort they plan to launch closer to when the facilities start to open.
Mayor Ian Hamilton attended the announcement and was pleased at the contribution by BMO Financial.
"I think it's a great testament to the corporate community in North Battleford that another major enterprise in the city of North Battleford has come forward to put their money toward a very well-deserving project that will better the quality of life of everyone in the region."
Hamilton also filled in reporters about the timelines when the various components of the CUPlex are to open to the public.
He expects substantial completion of the aquatic centre to happen at the end of this month, and then it will take "six to eight weeks to fit up" and get staff trained.
For the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts, "we are working on plans for a mid-September event that will officially open the theatre," said Hamilton. The curling centre is looking at a September opening as well. The field house still expects substantial completion in mid-October.
Overall, the mayor was pleased with the progress of the whole project. "It's all coming together very nicely," said Hamilton.
