'We need to do something': Shawville residents fight to save local arena
Mike Rusenstrom remembers spending all his weekends playing hockey at the Shawville arena growing up.
But in the decades since it was built in 1960, Rusenstrom has watched as the rink's refrigeration system, boards and concrete base have aged far past their normal lifespan, with only minor repairs made along the way.
"When you turn the switch on for that ice plant, if it doesn't fire up, it doesn't matter how much money you've invested in your dressing room," Rusenstrom said, adding he believes the arena's value should be measured by more than "just dollars and cents."
As many as 200 minor hockey players and 115 figure skaters use the rink from September to April, Rusenstrom said. Without the arena, he said, those families would have to drive a long way to find another facility.
"You start looking at the social return on investment of having like that hub of something within the community," he said.
Still, Rusenstrom acknowledged the estimated $2-million renovation is too much for Shawville to take on alone. That's why he and a committee formed to save the arena have started fundraising and looking for support from the surrounding community and other levels of government.
Through conversations with government officials, Rusenstrom estimates the community will have to fund about a third, approximately $700,000, of the project on its own, something the committee hopes to do over the next two years.
"You don't want to get caught that all of the sudden it's like 'Hey, there's money available from the government,' but all we have is shortfall because we didn't start acting soon enough," Rusenstrom said.
'Badly needed' in the community
Jerry Barber of Petro Pontiac said he's confident the community will raise the money, adding that he can't imagine Shawville without the arena.
"The arena includes everyone," Barber said. "Recreation is an important part of a community just like hospitals are and schools."
Café 349 owner Ruth Smiley-Hahn said the arena is "badly needed" in the community.
"It's a huge area for the local fair and Canada Day festivities," Smiley-Hahn said.
Mayor Bill McCleary said the Shawville arena is "living on borrowed time."
"The day is coming (when) it's just gonna go, boom. You won't have ice," McCleary said.
Bu, he added, the situation Shawville finds itself in isn't unique in Quebec.
"Arenas all across the province are struggling," he said. "The climate in Quebec right now — they're making cuts. They're not doing funding."
McCleary said he's hopeful that higher levels of government will take notice if they see support from the broader community.
"You have to have an arena," he said. "If you don't have an arena, what do your kids do in the wintertime?"
Rusenstrom's committee has organized fundraisers scheduled to take place over the summer.
He said he, too, is hopeful they will raise the money, adding the community has a history of supporting the arena through the years.
"We know that we need to do something," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edmonton Journal
31-05-2025
- Edmonton Journal
Ernie Clement and the Blue Jays beat up on Athletics again
Article content Addison Barger also went deep in Friday's victory while Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes also had two hits apiece as the bottom four in the order went a combined 9-for-16 with nine runs scored, two homers and five RBIs. The following are three takeaways on a night the Blue Jays would score three runs in three different innings to win their third in a row. 1. Run of the mill The Rogers Centre roof was half-open or half-closed, depending on one's perspective. One could draw a similar comparison to the Blue Jays. It's hard to judge this lineup when the opposition is as poor as the A's. Still, the bottom line is the Jays' bats have flourished in two games, beginning with Thursday night's win when 18 hits produced 12 runs. The hitting frenzy carried over into Friday when 15 hits were recorded and every starter in the lineup produced at least one. 2. Canada Day
National Post
04-05-2025
- National Post
With one deal done, what's next for Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy to do?
Shortly after Saturday's announcement that right-winger Matt Coronato had signed a seven-year, US$45.5-million extension with the Flames, another of Calgary's emerging core pieces congratulated his teammate and close friend on social media. Article content Article content Article content One of Matt Coronato's close buddies, Connor Zary, reacts to his seven-year extension with #Flames … — Wes Gilbertson (@WesGilbertson) May 3, 2025 Article content While we agree that Coronato should probably pick up the tab the next time these pals are out for steaks or chicken parm, Zary could soon be celebrating a new contract of his own. Maybe he's next. Article content Around the same time that Zary was posting about Coronato's mega-deal, general manager Craig Conroy was jokingly apologizing to a beat reporter for keeping him off the golf course or patio on a sun-scorched Saturday afternoon. Article content With the amount on his plate, it certainly isn't a surprise the Flames GM is working through the weekends. As the ink dries on Coronato's 7×6.5, let's refresh Conroy's to-do list … Article content The restricted free agents Article content After burying 24 goals during a breakthrough campaign, Coronato headlined the Flames' crop of pending restricted free agents. So Conroy can cross off one name. Who's next? Kevin Bahl seems like the most obvious candidate for a long-term pact. The 24-year-old defenceman showed this winter that he can log heavy minutes in a shutdown role. If Rasmus Andersson isn't extended (and more on him in a minute), Bahl may be an ideal partner for prized prospect Zayne Parekh. Zary, whose sophomore NHL season was derailed by a pair of injuries, would likely prefer a bridge deal. That buys some time for the 23-year-old to fulfil his offensive potential and for the Flames to sort out exactly where he fits in the lineup. Adam Klapka, who boosted his bargaining power with some timely tallies during the wild-card chase, is eligible for arbitration. Ditto for both Morgan Frost and Sam Morton. Article content Article content The NHL's rule is that you can't sign an extension until there is only one year remaining on your current contract. That's why you always see a few big-money re-ups on July 1. Could the Flames make a Canada Day splash with a long-term whopper for their rising-star goaltender Dustin Wolf? There's an obvious starting point for these negotiations — Jeremy Swayman's eight-year extension with the Boston Bruins, which was inked last fall and carries an annual cap hit of US$8.25 million. While Wolf will be a fixture at the Saddledome and then Scotia Place for years to come, Andersson has admitted that it's hard to predict what his future holds. The two sides will exchange offers, but will they find middle ground on length and dollar value, or will the workhorse rearguard either be traded away this summer or start next season as a soon-to-be UFA? At age 28, this next contract should be the richest of Andersson's career. Question is, does that sort of commitment make sense for the Flames? Article content Article content On locker clean-out day at the Saddledome, Dan Vladar revealed that he's been talking contract with the Flames for months already, reiterating his desire to stick around as Wolf's backup. Will he put pen to paper soon, or will the 27-year-old Vladar be tempted to find out what sort of opportunity and loot he may be offered in unrestricted free agency? With Frederik Andersen staying for another season in Carolina, the goalie market is thin. Justin Kirkland and Joel Hanley have also expressed that they'd love to re-sign with the Flames. Kirkland, who was one of the NHL's feel-good fall stories before he suffered a season-ending ACL injury, should appeal as a guy who can provide some versatility in a bottom-six forward role and can snipe in the shootout. Hanley was an unsung hero on the blue-line but he is also 33, so Conroy may be better off shopping for a permanent partner for MacKenzie Weegar.
CBC
19-04-2025
- CBC
'We need to do something': Shawville residents fight to save local arena
Mike Rusenstrom remembers spending all his weekends playing hockey at the Shawville arena growing up. But in the decades since it was built in 1960, Rusenstrom has watched as the rink's refrigeration system, boards and concrete base have aged far past their normal lifespan, with only minor repairs made along the way. "When you turn the switch on for that ice plant, if it doesn't fire up, it doesn't matter how much money you've invested in your dressing room," Rusenstrom said, adding he believes the arena's value should be measured by more than "just dollars and cents." As many as 200 minor hockey players and 115 figure skaters use the rink from September to April, Rusenstrom said. Without the arena, he said, those families would have to drive a long way to find another facility. "You start looking at the social return on investment of having like that hub of something within the community," he said. Still, Rusenstrom acknowledged the estimated $2-million renovation is too much for Shawville to take on alone. That's why he and a committee formed to save the arena have started fundraising and looking for support from the surrounding community and other levels of government. Through conversations with government officials, Rusenstrom estimates the community will have to fund about a third, approximately $700,000, of the project on its own, something the committee hopes to do over the next two years. "You don't want to get caught that all of the sudden it's like 'Hey, there's money available from the government,' but all we have is shortfall because we didn't start acting soon enough," Rusenstrom said. 'Badly needed' in the community Jerry Barber of Petro Pontiac said he's confident the community will raise the money, adding that he can't imagine Shawville without the arena. "The arena includes everyone," Barber said. "Recreation is an important part of a community just like hospitals are and schools." Café 349 owner Ruth Smiley-Hahn said the arena is "badly needed" in the community. "It's a huge area for the local fair and Canada Day festivities," Smiley-Hahn said. Mayor Bill McCleary said the Shawville arena is "living on borrowed time." "The day is coming (when) it's just gonna go, boom. You won't have ice," McCleary said. Bu, he added, the situation Shawville finds itself in isn't unique in Quebec. "Arenas all across the province are struggling," he said. "The climate in Quebec right now — they're making cuts. They're not doing funding." McCleary said he's hopeful that higher levels of government will take notice if they see support from the broader community. "You have to have an arena," he said. "If you don't have an arena, what do your kids do in the wintertime?" Rusenstrom's committee has organized fundraisers scheduled to take place over the summer. He said he, too, is hopeful they will raise the money, adding the community has a history of supporting the arena through the years. "We know that we need to do something," he said.
