By paNOW

Shellbrook arena edges closer to dream reno

Jan 22, 2019 | 6:00 PM

Another major step was taken toward the ambitious renovation of the Shellbrook Arena after the success of the latest Hockey Day festivities. The total project cost could total in excess of $2 million if everything that’s proposed is accomplished.

The funds raised over the weekend came to more than $80,000 and will go toward the ongoing efforts to bring the community asset up to modern standards. Plans are in the works for some additional key work as soon as this season comes to a close.

“We could never get to that [$80,000] number without the amazing sponsors, both within the community of Shellbrook and surrounding, as well as personal donations,” one of the event organizers Stephanie Gosselin told paNOW. “The banquet with auction and silent auction is also a huge fundraiser.”

But Gosselin was eager to point out all the other elements that contribute to the ultimate bigger picture such as the pancake breakfast and pie and coffee sale.

She figured the overall turnout for the events at the rink was bigger than last year despite the extra cold weather.

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Meanwhile, the next phase of the arena’s conversion into a modern venue will get underway once the hockey season wraps up in April. The work falls under the Shellbrook Recreation Project Steering Committee which includes various stakeholders including the town which owns and operates the arena.

“The main focus this year is to replace the ice field floor,” project manager with the committee Amund Otterson told paNOW. “That consists of concrete, cooling lines, insulation, frost preventing heating lines and drainage; the old concrete which is just on a sand base is cracking and needs to be replaced because it has seen better days.”

Otterson said the job would also feature the replacement of the rotting puck boards and glass.

This year’s second phase of work follows the installation of a new ice plant last year. The third and final phase of the overall project would involve the renovation of the entire building envelope sometime in 2020, which will include solar panels on the roof. That environmental and energy-saving aspect is one of the reasons the arena has secured $750,000 in crucial grant funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) building green fund, although the committee applied for $1 million.

“The 200 KW of solar panels, the maximum allowed under the SaskPower net metering program, makes total sense for a skating rink that’s idle in the summer, providing power credits for future consumption,” Otterson said.

Otterson added while the FCM had approved the $750,000 grant, the committee was still awaiting the formal contract with the agency which was dependent on assurances there was enough additional funding to complete the entire project. Over $500,000 may still need to be fundraised.

The committee already proved its worth by raising over $500,000 in recent years, according to Otterson, and by already paying for the first phase of work which included the new ice plant, a new ice resurfacing machine and other elements. A loan agreement is in place with Affinity Credit Union should that be necessary in future but Otterson is confident additional funding could be raised without the need to go to borrowing.

“It’s just a matter of the folks at the FCM seeing we are capable of raising our share and the project we are basing this on, is partially completed now and that has been fully paid for,” he said.
 

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow