More than $900,000 Imperial Arena Upgrades Celebrates with the first Rock’n The Rink
Completed Infrastructure Project Allows Facility To Now Be Used Year Round
News Release Date: Sat., June 10, 2023 | Issued by: Town of Imperial
Today, the Town of Imperial and area celebrated the official grand re-opening of their local arena with their first Rock’n The Rink event, following an $906,138 upgrade funded in part by the federal and provincial governments that allows the facility to now be used all year.
Construction on the project began in March of 2022. Work involved pouring a new concrete floor for the rink surface to replace the existing gravel floor, installing new ice rink boards and re-using the existing glass. The community volunteered in various stages of the project. The work was completed in December 2022.
Before the project, the arena could only be used in the winter for sports such as hockey, ringette and figure skating. Now, it can be used in all seasons thanks to a new concrete floor for the rink surface, which allows other sports such as lacrosse or pickle ball, along with trade shows and cultural events.
The Government of Canada invested $350,914 in this project and the Government of Saskatchewan contributed $292,399. The Town of Imperial funded the remaining $262,825.
This first-ever Rock’n The Rink for Imperial involves several community activities such as a slow-pitch tournament at the ball diamonds near the rink, while inside the facility is a carnival for children, bingo, bake sale, and cabaret with live music. The community hopes to make it an annual event, thanks to their new concrete rink floor.
“Arenas are at the heart of rural communities across Canada, and Imperial is no exception,” said the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. “With the re-opening of the Town’s beloved arena, residents of all ages will now have a place to stay active year-round. We will continue working with our partners to improve the quality of life of Saskatchewanians and all Canadians.”
“The Government of Saskatchewan’s more than $290,000 in provincial funding toward the Town of Imperial’s arena upgrade project improved this key local infrastructure so it can now be used throughout the year,” said the Honourable Dana Skoropad, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Environment and MLA for Arm River, on behalf of the Honourable Don McMorris, the province’s Minister of Government Relations. “The facility’s new sturdy concrete floor not only makes this facility stronger, but also strengthens the heart of this community, as people can now gather more frequently and build even fonder memories of this special part of Saskatchewan.”
“Thanks to the support of the federal and provincial governments, this project was able to move forward from just talking about a concrete floor to actually putting one in place. Now that this project is completed, our community’s quality of life has improved and we’re better positioned for growth by having a venue that can potentially attract events throughout the year,” said His Worship Edward Abrey, Mayor of the Town of Imperial.
For more information, contact:
Town of Imperial | (306) 963-2220 | town.imperial@sasktel.net