East Central School is located east of Prince Albert, off highway 302. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Fundraising drive

East Central School community embarks on $100K fundraising drive

Oct 9, 2021 | 9:00 AM

The School Community Council (SCC) at East Central School has set an ambitious goal of raising $105,000.

The money will go towards the replacement of their local skating rink, which was destroyed by flooding several years ago. School Principal Joanne Tournier explained to paNOW that while the rink is located on the school grounds, it’s used by the entire surrounding community.

“It has been used for birthday parties, for kids to come out and play, shinny, hockey practices and the building was used by the 4H club many years ago to host their achievement days,” she said. “It has always been the hub of our community.”

The aim is to have the rink up and running by the winter of 2022.

The structure of the former rink is now barely visible amongst the weeds and tall grass. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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Over the course of the next 14 months, a number of different fundraising events are planned including a Walkathon on Oct. 15, and a Christmas Trade Show on Nov. 27. Tournier explained the goal of the fundraising effort is to include the entire community – families who currently have children in the school; people who have had children in the school; and of course former students.

“I was an East Central student from Grade 1 to 7 and have great memories of being out on that rink, not only for skating at recess but we had a boys hockey team, there was a girls broomball team, and the rink building was very well used,” she said.

In addition to seeking sponsorships from local businesses, money is being collected in a number of other different ways.

Community members can drop off used items at the school by Oct. 15, and the school will take the items to Value Village where they can, as a non-profit organization, receive money for used clothing, and electronics.

There’s also an option for people to donate when they drop off their bottles and cans at SARCAN, by filling out the words “East Central” on the payment slip.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell