KERROBERT - With winter activities wrapped up for the season, Kerrrobert residents are looking forward to enjoying summer recreation and activity options.
“From October to March, the recreation Board and the Town of Kerrobert, with assistance from Sask Lotteries, offered approximately 350 hours of free public skate and shinny to anywhere from eight to18 people a day and we offered approximately 50 hours of free curling and skating to KCS students,” reports Recreation Director Bobbi Hebron.
Hebron says she is thankful for volunteers who helped the Shuffle Club and Forever in Motion programs. The Shuffle Club had 16 people registered with 18 registered for Forever in Motion. In 30 days of walking, participants averaged a total of 3.5 kilometres per day.
“Communities in Bloom Canada met in March and will meet again on April 25, and they are always welcoming new members,” Hebron says.
“Their flowerpot sponsorship letters were sent out last week and donations are always accepted to the Town of Kerrobert to sponsor flowerpots that you see planted across our community. “
There could be a challenge this year to water the pots if there are no summer students applying for positions. Hebron says the town continues to advertise for students 16 and up for summer student positions.
Hebron talks of great events and work projects upcoming at the fairgrounds in 2023 revolving around Kerrobert Minor Ball, Kerrobert slo-pitch league, Kerrobert Rodeo and Kerrobert Agricultural Society.
Kerrobert’s Recreation Department has begun major projects at the arena since hockey and curling seasons ended. The team will be removing and replacing puck board and working with a contractor to do board frame welding.
The purchase of two new heaters for the warm room is underway and upcoming will be a major overhaul on compressor B. The projects are expected to cost over $20,000 and will be financed through operating and reserve funds, but donations are always welcome and appreciated.
The Kerrobert Recreation Board will be putting out a tender for interested businesses or individuals to operate the booth for the 2023-24 season.
Retiring ice technicians John and Darlene Gillies have been training town staff on ice care at the curling rink but the town continues to seek others to get involved and ask interested parties to contact the recreation office.
It won’t be long before the Kerrobert swimming pool is open and plans for the season have been underway for the past two months.
“Letters of employment have gone out to trained lifeguards and instructors, but positions remain open to those who are in the process of getting their swim instructor or lifeguard training,” Hebron says.
“We are currently short lifeguards and swim instructors in June and short swim instructors through the summer. We have reached out to other communities for staff, but most are short as well, which is a trend that is being seen across Canada.”
If staffing positions cannot be filled, Hebron says this will mean that some difficult decisions may need to be made. The town will continue to evaluate staffing, think creatively and stay positive with another update on the situation by May 1. Parents and community members are encouraged to assist the town’s recreation department in reaching out to youth 14 and up and promoting the benefits of becoming swim instructors and lifeguards.
“Our current applicants are outstanding, and the community can be guaranteed that the culture of our pool will remain committed to safety, quality lessons and fun.”
Swim lessons have transitioned over to the Lifesaving Society Swim for Life program as Red Cross no longer offers its swim lesson program. A pool newsletter will be sent out in May and the registration date will be in mid-May. Current lesson dates are set but are subject to change, depending on the staffing situation.
