At a special meeting last Monday, representatives from the Elk Point Agricultural Society, including President Carrie Baumgardner, Acres for Ice Committee Member Loree Reynolds, and A.G. Ross Arena Secretary Courtney Kelly, approached the Elk Point Town Council with an urgent request. They sought a letter of support committing $187,500 toward their efforts to secure a new ice plant for the A.G. Ross Arena.
This funding request, paired with an equivalent amount from the county of St. Paul’s Community Organizations Grants and Loans policy, would fulfill the $375,000 required to apply for a $750,000 Active Communities Initiative Grant. The grant recently introduced by the province’s Department of Tourism and Sports required letters of commitment by 4:30 p.m. on the same day as the council meeting.
“We found out about a brand new grant through the province’s Department of Tourism and Sports and we put in an expression of interest and were approved to apply. We’re here at the last minute because we have to get the application in today,” Baumgardner told the council. She explained that while the Agricultural Society has raised significant funds over the past two years through initiatives like Acres for Ice and Cornhole tournaments, additional support from local municipalities is crucial to meet the matching fund requirements.
The proposed ice plant would be a completely enclosed unit, delivered on skids and installed beside the existing arena structure, connecting to the current system. The delegation highlighted the arena’s importance to the community and warned that without a replacement for the aging ice plant, the facility could soon become inoperable, potentially forcing local hockey and skating programs to rely on ice rentals from neighboring communities.
Mayor Parish Tung expressed empathy for the delegation’s concerns, noting the council’s awareness of the arena’s issues, which have included costly motor replacements in recent years. However, town CAO Ken Gwozdz and Director of Corporate and Community Service Lisa Han reviewed the town’s capital project plans, which outlined competing priorities such as engineering for a water reservoir and purchasing a new fire pumper truck.
Acknowledging the tight financial constraints, Mayor Tung emphasized the importance of the request, stating, “It’s no secret, the town is going through a metamorphosis, and we have to make some concessions with cash limitations, our budget is pretty tight.” He added that delaying the decision until the October 15 budget meeting would not satisfy the grant application deadline, which the delegation could not afford.
Despite initial concerns, the council moved forward with a motion to direct the town administration to prepare a letter of commitment from the mayor’s office for the $187,5000 ice plant contribution, to be included in the 2025 budget. The motion clarified that the town would not be responsible for any operating costs related to the arena. The decision was passed unanimously, and the delegation was assured that the letter would be ready in time for the grant application.
With the council’s support secured, the Agricultural Society remains hopeful in its bid to secure the provincial grant and ensure the future of the A.G. Ross Arena, a vital community hub in Elk Point.
