The Neerlandia Sports Committee is hoping to make Hockey Night, or morning or afternoon, a reality once again.
On Saturday, May 7, the committee is hosting a pair of fundraisers, a three, five and 10 kilometre walk/run, as well as a women’s gala to raise money for a new outdoor skating rink and skate shack.
About two years ago the community lost its outdoor skating rink, which was located on the old Neerlandia Public Christian School property, to make way for the new school.
Brent Wierenga, Neerlandia Sports Committee representative and one of the event’s organizers, said it was something that was probably overdue.
“The old rink was probably around since the 1940s,” he said, adding because the base of the rink was made of just earth, the ice was sometimes uneven and it couldn’t be used in the summer.
The committee hopes to not only replace the rink, but improve it.
“The idea behind the whole project is to have something that one day we might be able to convert into an actual indoor rink,” Wierenga said, adding in order to complete such an ambitious undertaking the project will be completed in stages.
In the first stage, volunteers will prepare the site to pour the concrete slab, which will include all the necessary coolant pipes for artificial ice.
The new rink will be located almost across the street from the original Co-op grocery store at the old Neerlandia Co-op site. A few weeks ago, the Co-op completed its move into their new building on the corner of Highway 659 and Township Road 615.
“The Co-op has generously donated three parcels of land, but a lot of work will have to be done to prepare the site,” he said, adding a large part of that will be demolition work. The parcels have a number of storage sheds on them, as well as the old store.
Wierenga said many local businesses and individuals have signed up to do the majority of the demolition and site prep.
“The biggest challenge and cost will be the concrete,” he said, adding that is one of the reasons he was recruited to be on the committee. “I am currently investigating a number of private and government grants which hopefully we can apply for.”
However, Wierenga said grants will not be enough. That is why the group is organizing a number of fundraisers, to help ‘Raise the Roof For the Rink.’
The first event starts at 9 a.m. in the Neerlandia Public Christian School parking lot. Registration fee is $30 per participant and there is also a family rate and group rate of $50 and $80, respectively.
After the walk/run, there will be a brunch, which is included in the registration fee. There will also be many home-based businesses at the school for those who wish to shop. Spectators are welcome, but brunch tickets for anyone not registered are $10.
In the evening, women are invited to take part in the first ever Neerlandia women’s gala in the Neerlandia Public Christian School gymnasium.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for cocktails and a vendors’ market. Other activities planned are wine sampling, a fashion show and a number of speakers.
Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at Neerlandia Public Christian School, or Define Clothing in Barrhead. Tickets for the gala are also available through Karen Wierenga at 780-674-5361. The gala is limited to women 18 or older.
To register or for more information on the run/walk, call Shelly Vanbeek at 780-674-5361, Brent Wierenga 780-910-0630 or Lindy Wiart at 780-674-5655. People are asked to register before April 22, for both events, but Wierenga said the committee will take registrations after that date.
