via Suzanne Trevis:
Some of our council members and the Parks & Recreation Committee met with Health Minister Mike de Jong just prior to Grad last Friday. He was participating in the Great Walk and had asked to meet with us to discuss our application for a Towns for Tomorrow grant. He was then going to ‘take that information back’ to the people responsible for making the decisions.
We had applied for a $400,000 grant as part of our Arena Upgrade Project, estimated at around $570,000. The plan includes: a new chiller for the curling rink; opens the lobby, warm room and curling hall up into one big room with access to the curling rink, ice rink and a new all access bathroom; a lift to get mobility challenged individuals up into our bleachers and the mezzanine/lounge area; a new sound system in the community hall; new flooring, environmental lighting and general upgrades to the hall, lobby and office area and a new electronic reader board for the main entrance out by the road.
After some general discussion the Minister asked if the project would still go ahead if only part of the grant was received. Mayor Anderson replied it was not common policy for the government, usually it was all or nothing, but that with four council members and representatives from all of our user groups present he felt we had the support from the community to move forward regardless. Minister de Jong said he was pleased we had given the right answer and pulled the attached letter from his jacket pocket, confirming $286,000 toward our project. He said although we had not been shortlisted, many of the applications were projects dealing with sewer and water issues, we had addressed all of the main criteria; seniors & accessibility, environment & energy, and health & recreation.
At last Monday’s council meeting, council supported a motion to provide the shortfall and move forward with all of the original plans rather than cut back on the project. Staff have already started planning for the replacement of the Curling Rink Chiller, however, due to the delay in announcing the funding, the bulk of the work will have to be put off until next summer. Subject to availability and delivery the Contractor is confident the new Chiller can be in place prior to the Curling Season (Oct). The Lobby and other updates will need to be designed and planned to be implemented after the 2011-12 Hockey Season to minimize conflict with our user groups.
A huge thank you to our staff, who worked most of their Christmas holidays to get this grant application together on time, and to our committee members, who volunteer their time to help make projects like this a reality. Congratulations to you all!
Councillor Suzanne Trevis, Parks & Recreation Committee Chair
Pictured in photo: Mick Mann – Parks & Recreation Manager, Councillor Larry Fehr, Sheila Millard – GR Curling Club, Mayor Craig Anderson, Minister Mike de Jong, Debbie Erickson – GR Skating Club, Councillor Suzanne Trevis – Parks & Recreation Committee Chair, Anne Mehlhart – GR Revelers
Missing from photo: Councillor Kirsty Begon – Parks & Recreation Committee co-chair, Ellena Gjesdal – GR Minor Hockey, Mike Lott – Aquatic Supervisor
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