Hometown Pride Scores Arena Investment
Rinks across Canada serve a greater purpose than giving kids a place to play the sports they love; they are places where communities come together and friendships are forged.
“I didn't grow up in the hockey world, but once my oldest started playing, it didn't take us long to figure out that's where all the action is. Then my youngest daughter joined hockey because she knew that’s where all of her friends would be in the winter and the rink became a big part of our lives,” says Leanne Nichol, the town’s Recreation Manager.
With a personal and professional stake in keeping the arena running, Nichol has spent the past three years working on the plans and funding to replace the aging ice plant at La Palestre Rink.
“No one really sees the ice plant but it’s the one thing that could shut down a whole season if something goes wrong,” says Nichol. “Right now, our plant is basically held together with duct tape and I’m worried if something major happens, that season will be done. That would be devastating for the players but also the town since it brings in a lot of business during the season.”
The 45-year-old barn recently got two facelifts after a windstorm damaged the exterior of the building and a water main leak damaged the dressing rooms. Nichol says the visibility of these two repairs has had the pleasant consequence of inspiring others to take an interest in improving the arena.
“The updated dressing rooms and exterior look amazing, and I think those more visible improvements really got everyone more excited about the arena and you can see the pride the hockey community has for it,” says Nichol.
That pride was on display when Nichol got a call in April from Drieden Gauthier of Hawk’s Agro letting her know the project had been selected for a $7,500 grant from ADAMA Canada’s Stomping Grounds community investment initiative.
Stomping Grounds
The La Palestre Rink 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.
Ian Schafer, Southwest Saskatchewan Area Business Manager with ADAMA Canada, had the honour of personally delivering the cheque to Nichol and Gauthier.
“I’ve been involved in hockey all my life and know what this means to a community like Gravelbourg,” says Schafer. “If they couldn’t make ice it’s more than a missed season. It’s parents socializing in the stands, people working in the rink, hosting other teams for tournaments - the impact goes way beyond what happens on the ice.”
For Nichol, the grant from ADAMA meant more than getting one step closer to a new ice plant; it was further proof of how the arena brings people together.
“I had actually applied to Stomping Grounds separately from Drieden and was totally surprised when he called me,” she says. “But not that surprised, because over this past year especially, I’ve really seen the town come together to make sure we don’t lose something so important to everyone.”