Carrot River celebrated $500,000 worth of updates to its arena with a grand re-opening of the facility.
The bulk of that money, around 60 per cent, came from the town and the RM of Moose Range. The rest came from government grants, personal and corporate donations, and fundraisers – like a horse chip raffle – organized by the facility's users.
“It's very heartwarming to see a community pull together,” said Miranda Blaber, the town's recreation director, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 4.
Included in the upgrades to the 35-year-old Carrot River Community Centre: a new entrance, which opened up enough room for a fifth dressing room and a bar in the lobby; upgrades to the bleachers, upgrades to the ice plant, heating system, water heating systems and insulation in the walls and ceiling; and a remodeled room for the ice resurfacer.
“Looking back, it is often easy to forget the state of our recreation facilities 40 years ago. Many difficult decisions were made back then, by members of our community that had the vision and drive to build a brand new community centre, one that would serve us for many years to come,” said Candace Panchyshyn Beriguete, the chair of the recreation board. “We honour this vision today with much needed upgrades to a facility that continues to serve our community at a level that we have all come to expect.”
Syd Kearns, who was an employee of the arena for 32 years, had the honour of cutting the ribbon.
“He put in 32 years of being an employee in this facility,” Blaber said. “Prior to that, his father had a lot to do with the old arena and establishing and building this one, and Syd himself has had a lot of time as a hockey player, hockey parent and a volunteer.”
In the future, the arena is expecting to get a new ice resurfacer by October 2018. Skate Carrot River is hosting a chase the ace, with some of the proceeds going towards a dehumidifier that will made the arena feel warmer.
The ribbon-cutting was only part of a day focused on the arena and ice sports. Also featured was a performance from Skate Carrot River, minor hockey games, a radio auction fundraiser for Carrot River Minor Hockey and a free of charge Carrot River Outback Thunder game.
Blaber said the arena is an important place for the town.
“An arena is very much a community hub, especially during the winter months,” she said. “It's a place people can come and spend their winters together, and it's an opportunity for children and youth to be active.”
