The Richard Pioneer Recreation Centre in Shellbrook. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community initiatives

Community driven rink project crosses finish line

Apr 21, 2021 | 4:00 PM

A four year endeavor to give the Richardson Pioneer Recreation Centre in Shellbrook a much needed facelift, has officially wrapped up.

The work done included major upgrades to the rink surface, heating system, bathrooms and lobby area, as well as the installation of a solar panel array outside the facility. In addition to lowering the rink’s carbon footprint, the town will also receive full retail value for electricity generated, through Saskatchewan’s Net Metering program.

While the initial cost of the project was predicted to be over $2.1 million dollars, the steering committee came in under budget at just under $1.9 million. Mayor Amund Otterson attributed the difference to extensive help and support from volunteers, as well as an extension to the original one year plan.

“Putting it through a three year phase resulted in the solar costing less than we were originally thinking,” he said.

Workers putting in the new arena floor (Submitted Photograph/Amund Otterson)

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Otterson explained one of the initial big questions for the project was whether they would have to spend $10 million dollars on a new facility, or could renovate the existing building. An engineers study confirmed the building was still structurally strong.

“The rink was built by community members, like the grandparents of current users,” Otterson said. “All the volunteerism that has gone into it over the years has come to fruition once again.”

In addition to federal grants totalling over $750,000, the steering committee also received over $450,000 from Hockey Day in Shellbrook.

“If you walked into our rink, you wouldn’t believe the finish on the interior of the washrooms, ” Otterson noted.

Another key contributor was the Field of Dreams, a fundraiser through local producers and grain companies, providing nearly $180,000 to both the skating and curling rinks.

In addition to the work done by the steering committee, a local group also undertook its own project to have 630 arena-style seats installed in the rink. Committee treasurer Tasha Cyr said she is happy to be done with no debt, adding it could not have happened without the amazing community support.

“I calculated us having over 8,900 hours in volunteer time of people and machinery,” she said. “It saved us over $200,000 and that’s just what I’ve accounted for.”

Cyr cited one example of the removal of the cement pad underneath the ice.

“We had machinery in there from I’m sure half the farmers around and half the businesses with their skid steers and whatever they had,” she said.

(Submitted photo/Amund Otterson)

The solar array, located by the recreation centre, will generate an estimated 120,000kW per year, which equals $16,800 of electricity at 2020 prices.

While not confirmed, an estimated $50,000 was left in the coffers and will be transferred to the town to be used for any future capital expenditures.

Curling rink and Kinsmen Park upgrades

While the work by the steering committee is done, a separate community driven project continues by the Shellbrook Kinettes group, in partnership with the curling club.

The “Lucky 7” has raised over $11,000, and all the money will stay in the community.

Both the work and the revenue will be divided equally by the two groups. In the case of the Kinettes, no specific project has been chosen at this time.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell