The Town of Altona Recreation Department is gearing up for another busy fall and winter.
Recreation Services Manager Eric Hildebrand says the 2022 program flyer is in the mail.
"We have a great offering of recreation programs, courses, workshops. Whether they're sport based or more in the line of arts and crafts. Our Recreation Programmer Brittany [Winkler] in the office has been busy here and we've been taking registrations for the last week and a half and things are looking good. People are excited to see all the offerings and start registering for programs and events again."
Hildebrand notes the ice surface is now ready for play at the Altona Sunflower Gardens Arena.
"Minor hockey and the skating club are of course the two major users of the facility. They've already scheduled in the start of their seasons as they start the preparation on the hockey side. They're just kind of getting their players out there on the ice and starting to look at breaking down the groups and organizing teams. They'll start to schedule games and specific team practices once teams are made. On the skating side, they're starting their CanSkate program for the younger children and of course their star skaters are eager to be back on the ice and start practicing and looking towards competition."
Meanwhile, Hildebrand says the curling club is expected to have ice ready in mid to late October.
"I know the individuals involved with the Altona Curling Club are very excited for this upcoming season. At the end of December, they will be hosting the provincial U18 tournament or bonspiel. We'll have competitors from across the province in the U18 category that will be in Altona and they'll all be vying for a provincial championship and so they'll be some local curlers in that event and that will bring in some people from around the province so that should be an exciting event that they're hosting."
Hildebrand says the town will once again maintain the ice surface at the Buffalo Creek Nature Park. He notes they've also been making a concentrated effort in the last few years to routinely maintain the pathway system in and around the Centennial Park and the Nature Park.
The town will also look at flooding the basketball court at Ash Park in addition to other outdoor rinks that may pop up.