The Cremona & District Ag Society is asking Mountain View County to contribute $500,000 towards a $1.2-million project to upgrade the Cremona Arena.
Jamie Veres and Greg Earle of the society requested the money during the county's policies and priorities committee meeting on July 6.
Veres said if the county approves the request, the society could apply for a matching grant where the provincial and federal governments would each provide $250,000 towards the project.
She said the society would like to install a wheelchair lift because handicapped people can only access the main floor of the building.
The society would also like to transform the lower foyer into four smaller dressing rooms with washrooms for women, install a concession and upgrade the heating and plumbing systems.
“And hopefully we can get some green energy in there somehow. We're not sure how we're going to do it but we'd like to make sure that we do some green upgrades,” said Veres.
The society is not asking the Village of Cremona for money for the project.
“We have their support but I don't think the village has got any money to give us. But they help us wherever they can,” she said, adding officials help society members apply for grants and make sure paperwork is done correctly.
She said society members will also be raising money for the project through skate-a-thons at the arena in the coming months.
The society built the arena for a cost of approximately $500,000 in 1984 and has operated it since.
It operates from mid-October to the end of March but society members say they would be willing to open it year-round if the demand was there.
Many people from Calgary, Carstairs, Olds, Cochrane and Airdrie use the facility.
More than 1,300 hours of ice time is used each year by the Cremona Minor Hockey Association, Cremona Skating Club, Cremona Fun Team, men's and ladies' recreational hockey teams, Cremona and Westbrook schools, as well as hockey and ringette teams from Calgary, Airdrie and Cochrane.
Over the past four years, the society has fundraised and received grants to convert the lighting system, replace the hockey board and glass, rebuild the ice plant and replace the sound system.
Veres said the society would like to see the upgrades completed by October of 2019.
“One of the things that council asked was if the upgrades didn't go ahead, would the arena close,” said Veres.
“No, the arena wouldn't close, but we have communities coming to our facility, so I don't see us being able to get ice time in other facilities when they're coming to us.”
Committee members instructed administration to forward the funding request to budget deliberations.
"One of the things that council asked was if the upgrades didn't go ahead, would the arena close. No, the arena wouldn't close, but we have communities coming to our facility, so I don't see us being able to get ice time in other facilities when they're coming to us."Jamie Veres,Cremona & District Ag Society
