Spruce View's Diamond Jubilee Recreation Centre will be getting some much needed upgrades after the community west of Bowden won a community-support contest put on by UFA.
On Jan. 15 the Spruce View Agricultural Society was named the winner of the third-annual $50,000 UFA's ëRural from the Roots Up ñ Get 'n' Give' contest.
Spruce View beat out fellow finalist communities Armena, Dalum, Hand Hills and Lomond to take the cash. A committee from last year's contest winner, Foremost, Alta., chose the winner this year.
Each community made a submission for the prize. Spruce View's entry included a video of a song "The Good Old UFAî written and performed by musician Crystal Steeves. The video also featured Benjamin Box, 4, as ëCaptain UFA'.
"They had a creative song with original lyrics and ëCaptain UFA' really made them stand out,î said Foremost judge Lylla Laqua.
Fellow judge Stacey Barrows added: "We came to the unanimous decision because we all felt the same way. The prize would allow their facility to benefit for many generations to come in Spruce View.î
The money will be used to make major repairs to the centre's roof and to fix the ventilation system, say officials.
The Diamond Jubilee Recreation Centre is a year-round facility that hosts minor hockey, recreational hockey, 4-H, gymkhana, figure skating, rodeos, dances, bull riding events, and many other community events and activities. It was built in 1979.
UFA Co-operative Limited has a network of more than 100 bulk fuel and cardlock petroleum locations, 35 Farm & Ranch Supply stores, and a dozen Wholesale Sports Outdoor Outfitter stores.
