Community members stood helplessly and watched as the curling rink in Shell Lake was detroyed by fire last August. (Submitted photo/Jeannette Primeau)

By Nigel Maxwell

Out of the ashes

Shell Lake fundraising for new curling rink

Mar 3, 2022 | 4:00 PM

A little more than six months after a fire consumed the Shell Lake Curling rink, efforts are well underway to build a new one.

A fundraiser dance that was originally scheduled for New Year’s Eve, has a new date of April 9 at the local Lion’s Hall. Committee member Jeannette Primeau explained they made the decision to postpone, after encountering some resistance from some community members who were upset with the province’s vaccine passport mandate. Other community members expressed concern about the rising Omnicron variant.

“As a result our ticket sales weren’t up quite as high as we wanted,” Primeau said. “So we decided to postpone to a later date when restrictions were lifted so we could get a better turnout.”

The event in April marks the second major fundraising effort. A golf tournament and silent auction last September raised over $70,000. A number of items were donated including the meal and the green fees. Acknowledging the tremendous community support, Primeau confirmed they did have insurance.

“Unfortunately with the costs of lumber and supplies and contractors, the insurance just isn’t enough to do it all,” she said.

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A picture of the rink in its former glory. (Submitted/ Jeannette Primeau)

The curling rink, which had been standing since 1967, burned down on Aug. 14. Shellbrook RCMP later determined it to be suspicious in nature.

Primeau recalled being on her deck when the smoke began rising from the curling rink, but at the time she could not tell where exactly it was coming from. After running down the street, her suspicions were confirmed and she called 911. She said it’s been strange this winter not having the rink there.

“Lots of seniors from town would go there and sit and watch curling and have coffee and some pie or a hamburger. That’s just been taken from us all,” she said.

Dallas Schiera with the Dirt Rich Band, grew up in Shell Lake. He told paNOW it means a lot for them to help a good cause.

“I was actually in town the day after the curling arena burned down, and just hearing people talk about how upsetting it was,” he said.

Recalling his own memories growing up in Shell Lake and playing hockey, Schiera said the great thing about a small town is seeing how committed everyone is, to making life better for their children.

Tickets for the dance are $30, and for those people who purchased tickets for the New Year’s Eve dance and did not request a refund, new tickets will be available to pick up.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Shell Lake fundraising for new curling rink

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