Skating enthusiasts will soon benefit from an updated facility at Elm Creek Skating Rink, thanks, in part, to Cargill.
$30,000 and a good tip
The company recently jumped on board to help with the rink’s fundraising efforts.
“When we were looking to fundraise for an artificial ice plant and a concrete refrigerated floor, we reached out to Cargill, and they decided they would donate $30,000 over three years to the skating rink,” says Daniel Lepp, a board member on the Elm Creek Skating Rink board.
In addition to the funding plan, Lepp says Cargill also directed the board to their grant program, which, if approved through an application, provides $10,000 a year.
“There's no guarantee that we will receive that grant, but it's a chance at some more funds to help us reach our goal,” says Lepp.
What does the project entail?
The funds from Cargill will be a much-needed addition to Elm Creek’s rink project, which also includes a new building alongside the artificial ice plant and refrigerated concrete floor.
Overall, the project has a price tag of $600,000.
Lepp says that a large part of the cost can be found in the floor.
“[We’re] adding concrete to a sand floor, so we have to excavate sand, we have to add compacted gravel, we're going to tile the floor before the compacted gravel, then we're putting in ... four inches of Styrofoam and a five- or six-inch concrete pad with cooling lines,” he says.
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According to Lepp, construction for the project will be underway in the latter half of June. He says the rink will be looking for volunteers in that timeframe.
“There’s a lot involved,” he says.
As for other funding, Lepp says that Access Credit Union also donated $50,000 to the rink, and the RM of Grey offered $30,000.
“Apart from that, the rest of it is donations from the local community and surrounding communities and businesses,” he says. “We had a really good intake with local donations, which was awesome.”
To keep up with Elm Creek Skating Rink’s progress, follow its Facebook page.
With files from Robyn Wiebe
