The R.M. of Ritchot is introducing a new community event called Paint the Rink, set to take place at the St. Adolphe Arena on May 26. Inspired by similar initiatives in the NHL and other Manitoba communities, the event invites residents to transform the ice surface into a massive canvas before it is removed for the season.
Danielle Peters with the R.M. of Ritchot says the concept is about bringing people together for a fun and creative experience. “At the end of every season, [NHL teams] invite all their fans, family, staff, players, all that kind of stuff to come onto the ice and paint the surface like it’s a big canvas,” she says. “We thought, what the heck, let’s bring it to Ritchot and give it a shot.”
All painting supplies will be provided by the R.M., and participants are encouraged to paint anything they like, whether it’s a favourite animal, a hopscotch game, or a word that describes how they’re feeling. Peters says the goal is to make it accessible to everyone, regardless of artistic skill. “There’s no pressure,” she says. “Even if you just want to come chitchat and hang out, that’s fine too.”
Dukes Burger Company will also be on-site serving food, making it a family-friendly evening of art and socializing. Peters says there are plans to document the artwork with a drone shot, capturing the entire ice surface as a unique send-off to the end of the winter sports season.
“If this goes well, we’d love to travel to all of our communities that have arenas,” says Peters. “This is just a tester to see how it goes.”
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the event will run for two hours. Participants can come and go as they please, with no formal program scheduled.
-With files from Carly Koop.