Grant Helps Chip Away at Arena To-Do List
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
The same adage can be applied to building a new arena, and that is the approach board members of the Ituna Community Arena took when they decided the town’s original arena needed replacement.
“The biggest task was getting the structure up and a functioning rink going and that was our focus when we started the project over 10 years ago,” says Aaron Ivey, treasurer of the board and member of the building committee.
The grand opening was held in 2024 and the arena has now played host to two seasons of standing room only hockey, something that is about to change.
“Since opening, we have been chipping away at smaller projects to add to the facility and the one we are working on now is installing some permanent bleachers so our parents and fans have a place to sit,” says Ivey.
Ivey says they have a lot of ideas on their wish list but, like most things, it comes down to finding the money to pay for it and thanks to his wife and fellow board member Adrienne, the bleachers are closer to being crossed off.
“Adrienne found out about ADAMA’s Stomping Grounds through social media and submitted the application for a grant so we could get the bleacher project started,” he says.
In early April, the Iveys and their fellow board members received word that their project had been selected for a $7,500 investment from the company.
Stomping Grounds
The Ituna Community Arena is one of 23 community projects from across Canada that received funding from ADAMA this year. The company invested a total of $127,000 into the 23 projects and has contributed over half a million dollars since 2018 to strengthen the fabric of rural communities.
Mackenzie Walter, South Central Saskatchewan Area Business Manager with ADAMA Canada, had the honour of personally delivering the cheque to Adrienne and was treated to a tour of the new rink.
“Adrienne was telling me how much the new arena has invigorated the community with more kids than ever registered for hockey, the return of a senior’s team and women’s hockey starting to gain steam too,” says Walter.
The Iveys say that community involvement extends to things off the ice too.
“We’re now the old guard on the board and there is a whole raft of young people engaged and excited about the new rink, wanting to get involved and coming up with ideas,” says Aaron.
“It has been a long journey,” adds Adrienne. “When we started this 10 years ago the whole project was so daunting – almost overwhelming. Now that we are down to the little parts, it’s so much more achievable. I’m glad we built it and we’re almost done.”