Tundra Oil & Gas gave a donation of $100,000 to the Communiplex project at the end of the girl’s Midget provincial game where the Melita Bison’s won on Friday, March 16, at the local arena. More than a surprise the board in charge of the reconstruction of the Communiplex was ecstatic.
“They have been long time supporters of our area and surrounding areas like Pierson and Waskada,” said Glen Vercaigne, a board member for the Communiplex reconstruction project. The board’s main fundraiser Ron Rutherford was told by Tundra six weeks ago that they were going to make an announcement. “They kept it a secret, they said we’d be happy with it, but it was a secret right until Friday when we all saw it,” said Vercaigne. We were thrilled, every dollar counts and when you get a big sum like that it goes a long way.”
The Communiplex project received funding in 2012 from the Western Economic Diversification Fund, a government fund that provided them with 250,000 dollars. It was the beginnings of starting to get some of the work done on the community centre. New seat in the arena, and a few other possible improvements were able to happen. But to complete the project they needed a lot more funding. Deciding to not give up and sick with it, they went through a bit of a lull period for funding until they discovered way to get it through a small communities fund I the government.
They applied in 2016 and with a wait period of more than they expected and finally got an answer in August of 2017 that they were approved federally and provincially for one million dollars from each and that they would have to match it. It’s basically a third to each of them for a million dollars apiece. The project itself will likely exceed four million dollars but the Melita share in the funds, privately raised, is already at, with the Tundra donation, about 1.9 million.
The plan now is to get a quote from the contractors, trades men and supply costs. As time has gone on the initial budget has to now work with inflation costs, while trying to keep the same streamlined budget. Any costs not covered by the now 3.9 million total raised for the project will have to come from local governments or private donors. Glen Vercaigne says it’s likely they will go over the four million mark, but is confident at this point finding the rest of the funds won’t be a problem.
Construction is set to take place soon, and the projected finish date is 18 months. The pool will still operate as normal this summer and the rinks will be ready for the Bonspiel Curling events starting 2019 in January. They may be a bit of construction going on at the time, be the facility will still be operable. All skating and usual event that start in October will continue as well, the plan is to work around the teams that use it.
“I think when were done it’ll be a nice little gem in this corner of the province,” said Glen Vercaigne, and gem is right. A “wellness centre” the Communiplex will feature a fitness centre and walking tracks. In close proximity to the elderly living nearby, they can come to the centre and make use of the tracks and the rest of what’s offered. There will be a basketball court slash pickle ball court, the curling rink, an archery and target shooting range, a batting and pitching zone, and if all goes well, a golf simulator to practice your swing in during the winter months.
A Recreation Director will be right on sight and willingly taking feedback on what programs are in demand, and how to better what they will be offering. In a few years of a learning curve this will be one of the most versatile well used Communiplexs’ in the province.
Glen Vercaigne said it’s about time we offered something different to this community, to help people diversify and try something new. This project will likely gain a lot of interest in the next 18 months.
