A small town finds smooth skating
Tuesday, August 1 2000
This new ice rink features a state-of the-art refrigeration system, but created no municipal debt for this small town.
Balgonie, Saskatchewan, a town within commuting distance of Regina, the provincial capital, had an old ice rink in very bad shape. In or der to get even minimal insurance, a major investment was needed, and even then, coverage would be limited. The decision was made to dismantle the existing ice rink and start over.
It's no secret that ice rinks and hockey are as important in Canada even in small towns such as Balgonie with a population of 1,400 - as soccer fields are in Europe and baseball facilities are in the U.S. Hockey leagues in Balgonie range from tots through seniors. Recreational skating is also very popular. Therefore, it was very important to the town of Balgonie to have a quality ice rink facility.
Financing the Rink
The Balgonie New Rink Fund Inc., a non-profit organization, was formed with full responsibility for the rink. The town of Balgonie, with no financial liability, leased the land to the group for $1 year and made an initial contribution of $200,000. The group then worked to raise an additional $600,000 in donations.
