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SAS K ATCH E WA N PA R KS A N D R ECR E AT I O N AS S O C I AT I O N

Building Spaces for Recreation New and Revitalized Recreation Facilities

01 SEPTEMBER 2011

SPRA STAFF

MANAGEMENT

Chief Executive Officer Norm Campbell

Program Manager John Firnesz

Field Services Manager Randy Durovick

Communication, Information and Research Manager Luella Newman

RECREATION CONSULTANTS

Information and Research Services Chantel Doerksen

Communications Lori Ross Christian Bates-Hardy

Human Resources and Funding Lee Anne Balliett

Parks and Open Spaces Andrew Exelby

Physical Activity and Fitness Wendy McKellar

Aboriginal Support Tim Haywahe Leadership and Evaluation Karen Thompson

Recreation Facilities Kelly Skotnitsky

Funding and Youth Tanya Murphy

ADMINISTRATION

Business Administrator Bonnie Thiessen

Business Administrator Anita Ehman

Executive Assistant Lois McNaught

Administrative Technician Ryan Monks Administrative Assistant II Wendy Chapman

Administrative Assistant I Amanda Trombley Donna Matheson

Regina Office: Phone: (306) 780-9231 or 1-800-563-2555

FIELD CONSULTANTS/ADMINISTRATION

Swift Current Jacyln Davis/Christine Rousseaux Phone: (306) 778-1091

Rosetown/North Battleford Kerry Bailey/ Michelle Longtin Phone: (306) 882-6601

Prince Albert Rob Boulding/Shari Morash Phone: (306) 953-0052

Weyburn Morgan Grainger/Vacant Phone: (306) 848-0272

Melville/Yorkton Darren Spelay/Vacant Phone: (306) 728-3860

Humboldt Clint McConnell/ Lynne Morelli Phone: (306) 682-5265

La Ronge Vacant/ Phone: (306) 425-1910

Physical Activity Kelly Schafer Phone: (306) 778-1095

SEPTEMBER 2013 | VOLUME 4 | NUMBER 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CEO’s Report 01 Just the Facts 02 Government of Saskatchewan Invests in Upgrades to Provincial Parks 03Recreation Environments on a Budget 04Lottery Lingo 05Spotlight - the Kerry Vickar Centre 05The Great Saskatchewan GPS Challenge 06New Martensville Athletic Pavillion 07Year Round at Watrous 08 Radville Swimming Pool Stays Afloat 09Community Rink Affordability Grant 10 So Many Reasons to Celebrate! 11When to Take the Plunge! 12Spray Park 13Events 14Funding 14Commercial Ads 14

DIRECTION is published four times a year (December, March, June and September). The publication is provided to members of the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association. Direct all communications to:

Editor, DIRECTION #100 - 1445 Park Street Regina, Saskatchewan S4N 4C5

You may also send letters or comments to Lori Ross, Communications Consultant, at 306.780.9370, by fax at 306.780.9257, or by email at lross@spra.sk.ca.

Articles within this magazine are the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of SPRA. Articles in DIRECTION may be reprinted, provided that full credits are shown for the author and the magazine.

SPRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Darrell Lessmeister

Director for Cities Jasmine Jackman

Director for Towns Mike Schwean

Director for Villages Clive Craig

Director at Large Corrine Galarneau Director at Large Mimi Lodoen

Director at Large Mike Powell

Director at Large Coralie Bueckert

Director for the North Derek Sylvestre

in motion STAFF

Manager Cathie Kryzanowski

Manager - Community and Target Strategies Marnie Sinclair

Executive Assistant Nicole Shewchuk

Communications Consultant Kim Herperger Amanda Perry

Administrative Assistant Stephanie Woitas Phone: (306) 780-9248 or 1-866-888-3648 Fax: (306) 780-9466

SEPTEMBER 2013 01

CEO’S REPORTNot too long ago, recreation facilities were commonly understood to be buildings - rinks, swimming pools, community centres and senior centres. A facility was defined more by the bricks and mortar holding it together than it was by the activities that were held on the inside. Common mecha-nisms that communities used

to measure the success of their operations focused primarily on the care of the building and the dollar cost to the munici-pality rather than on the benefits provided to individuals and to the community.

But there has been a gradual shift in the past few years, that we as recreation leaders and supporters, need to recognize and use to our advantage. Communities are starting to de-velop a broader definition of recreation facilities that includes outdoor environments such as trails, parks, sports grounds, toboggan hills, playgrounds and open spaces. Communities are starting to recognize that recreation facilities help build communities.

The strategic plan consultations that SPRA hosted across the province last spring achieved general consensus that indoor or outdoor spaces that are maintained or designated for rec-reation activities should be considered recreation facilities. This represents a significant shift in thinking for many people and a growing recognition of facilities as essential building blocks in the development of healthy and active communi-ties.

Research shows that there is a strong association between the number of facilities in a community and the activity levels of youth. Not surprisingly, the research also shows that increased participation in sport and recreation activities were found among communities with accessible parks play-grounds and open spaces. But the benefits are not limited only to individuals. Community economic benefits are also noted. In fact research states that “proximity to parks and open spaces improves the visual environment and quality of life of those living nearby and results in higher prices for homes and land.”

There is significant research in this area and SPRA has compiled much of it into fact sheets that communities can use to position their facility operations as essential com-munity services that contributes to the well-being of the community. You can access the research www.spra.sk.ca/publications/benefit-fact-sheets, or contact the resource-centre@spra.sk.ca for customized searches.

Municipal councils must be confident that their tax dol-lars are being spent effectively and efficiently, and can be reminded that an investment in community recreation facili-ties does not just benefit those that actively participate, but benefits the entire community. By focusing on the social, economic, physical and environmental advantages that rec-reation facilities bring to a community, we can position them as key influencers on the quality of life in our communities.

Facilities are no longer simply viewed as places where people go, but as spaces where people grow!

02 SEPTEMBER 2013

JUST THE FACTS

Park, recreation and open space facilities are key influences on the quality of life in communities and the basis for business and individual relocation. Here are some facts and stats about these valuable facilities.

Recreation facilities are the heart of Saskatchewan communities and are an essential gathering place for healthy and vibrant communities.1

Increased participation in sport and recreational activities were found among communities with accessible parks, playgrounds and open spaces.2

Those living in areas with 7 or more facilities were 32% less likely to be overweight and 26% more likely to be highly active than those who lived in areaswith no facilities.3

According to the 2010 Living in Saskatchewan Communities: A Quality of Life Study: - Over half (56.7%) of respondents are satisfied with the overall quality of recreation and leisure facilities in their community.4

1. Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association. Investing in healthy people and communities through recreation infrastructure: December 2006.2. Beauvais, C. (2001). Literature Review on Learning through Recreation (Discussion Paper No. F|15). Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Policy Research Networks.3. Stripe, R.E. (2003). A richer heritage: Historic Preservation in the Twenty- First Century. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press. 4. Insightrix Research, Inc. (2010). Living in Saskatchewan Communities: A Quality of Life Study. Retrieved from http://www.cifsask.org/ uploads/CIF-Public-Survey-Report.pdf.

SEPTEMBER 2013 03

The province is growing, and so are provincial parks. Sas-katchewan’s provincial parks received a record-breaking 3.5 million visits in 2012, a nearly 6 per cent increase over the 3.3 million visits received in 2011.

In 2012, government committed an additional $10 million over four years to supplement the previously-enhanced provincial parks capital budget. Since 2008, government has invested almost $44 million to improve Saskatchewan’s provincial parks.

“Our provincial parks are the jewels of our province,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty said. “They are areas where residents and visitors can rest and relax. They are areas that encourage us to live healthy, active lifestyles; that encourage us to explore the outdoors and reconnect with nature. That’s why our government contin-ues to make strong investments in provin-cial parks.”

This year, it was announced that 375 campsites in Candle Lake, Greenwater, Rowan’s Ravine and the Battlefords Provincial Parks would receive new or upgraded electrical service.

Electrical upgrades to campsites are one of the most frequent park upgrades performed by the Government of Saskatchewan.

The needs of campers are changing. RVs are larger and require more electricity, which is why government will

frequently upgrade current electrical sites so that they can provide RVs with more power, or expand electrical service to non-electric sites.

Government is also working to upgrade and/or replace outdated boat launches, service centres, roads and sewage lagoons.

This summer, among other upgrades, the Government of Saskatchewan announced that it will build a new camp-ground and administration office at Cypress Hills Interprovin-cial Park, as well as replace the bridge on Battle Creek Road located in Cypress Hill’s west block.

The Birch Campground service centre at Duck Mountain Provincial Park and the service centre at The Battlefords Pro-vincial Park are being replaced. The new service centres will provide clean, modern and accessible washroom and shower facilities to campers.

Other improvements the Government of Saskatchewan com-mitted to: upgrading the Waterhen boat launch at Meadow Lake Provincial Park, upgrading the sewage lagoon at Echo Valley Provincial Park and repairing the roof and foundation of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church at Stanley Mission in Lac La Ronge Provincial Park.

“Parks are important,” Parks Services Acting Executive Director Bob McEachern said. “They enhance quality of life, one of our government’s primary goals. By investing in provincial parks, the province helps ensure that visitors will continue to receive the highest quality services.”

Chelsea CoupalCommunications ConsultantMinistry of Parks, Culture and Sport

GOVERNMENT OF SASKATCHEWAN INVESTS IN UPGRADES TO PROVINCIAL PARKSAs Saskatchewan’s provincial parks continue to attract record-breaking numbers of visitors, and the face of camping changes, the Government of Saskatchewan continues working to ensure the best camping experience possible is provided.

04 SEPTEMBER 2013

RECREATION ENVIRONMENTS ON A BUDGET

Here are some low-cost ways to support recreation in your community without

breaking your budget.

Facilities, parks and trails support a community’s health and recreation activities, and can transform any municipality into a must-visit tourist destination. These recreation destinations provide a means to enhancing a community’s health and well-being, and the economic incentives they generate can lead to job creation and long-term financial sustainability.

“Every year in Saskatchewan, sport, culture and recreation activities generate an estimated $1 billion worth

of economic activity and sustain al-most 13,000 jobs.”1

In order to take advantage of the significant economic generation and diverse employment opportunities afforded by recreation services, you need facilities, parks and trails to make those services happen. These recreation environ-ments are where tourism comes to life in your community.

Hockey rinks and multipurpose facilities are major tour-ist destinations, and can bring in a lot of revenue, but they come with a high cost of investment to develop and main-tain. However, there are options for communities with fewer resources. Community trails, for example, are an often overlooked recreation environment that can provide a healthy option for visiting tourists and a great, low-cost investment

for communities. They encourage active living and are a safe, affordable destination for tourists and members of your community, providing a diverse range of economic and social benefits that can be achieved in both rural and urban set-tings. Trails through city parks promote urban green space, and in rural areas they give exposure to the natural land-scape of Saskatchewan.

For those looking to establish a local trail-way system, the Saskatchewan Trails Association is a non-profit organiza-tion that supports the Saskatchewan Trail Network, and can assist community planners with the development, mainte-nance, and usage of recreational trails in Saskatchewan. Trail development can also be supported through community beautification programs like Communities in Bloom, a provin-cial and national program that recognizes local participation in projects involving community heritage and beautification.

Communities looking to promote their events at no cost can submit their event details to the online Saskatchewan Events calendar on Tourism Saskatchewan’s website. A quick search of the site shows that communities across the province are hosting affordable events that are bringing tourists to their communities in search of unique experiences and outdoor fun. You don’t need an expensive multipurpose facility to attract tourists, just a unique event that stands out from the crowd. We support the Saskatchewan Events calendar so that communities can raise the profile of their festivals and events and encourage out of town visitors to participate.

SEPTEMBER 2013 05

At SPRA, our consultants assist recreation directors, community leaders, and non-profit parks and recreation organizations in maintaining and funding improvements to their recreation environments and facilities. We provide advocacy, training, and resources to our network for the purpose of ensuring the sustainable management of parks and open spaces.

For more information on parks and recreation, please visit our website at www.spra.sk.ca, or call our Regina office at 1-800-563-2555.

1www.sasklotteries.ca/sk/who_benefits/index.html

Christian Bates-HardySPRA Consultant, Communications

The Kerry Vickar Centre is a multi-use facility in Melfort which is host to a gymnasium, meeting rooms, an art gal-lery and performing arts theatre.

Over the past four years, the Centre has held provincial tournaments for soccer, tae kwon do and judo. The Centre also has regular weekly bookings for volleyball, basketball, badminton, cheerleading, softball, floor ball and gymnas-tics. Having such a facility in Melfort has allowed groups and individuals to start classes, while allowing already existing groups to grow. Smaller rooms have been great spots for yoga, circuit and zumba classes, along with weekly nutritional meetings.

The people of Melfort welcomed the multi-use facility with open arms and have been the key promoters in attracting new visitors to the Centre. With bringing the Kerry Vickar Centre to life being a community effort, the pride of hav-ing such a building in Melfort, is very evident. The dream was years in the making, initiated by the Mayor and City Council of 2004. A fundraising campaign was launched in 2008 and in 2009 the Centre was in the final stages of completion.

Not only is the Centre used as a recreation facility, but is host to many weddings, conventions, concerts, meet-ings, and fundraisers. The Kerry Vickar Centre also has a strong arts presence, hosting a different art exhibit each month, a multitude of concerts each year, along with weekly craft meetings.

The Centre is continuing to grow in revenue each year, with more and more people wanting to rent the facility. Booking weddings two years in advance has become the norm. It is an exciting time for the City of Melfort and we are looking forward to what the future holds.

THE KERRY VICKAR CENTRE

SPOTLIGHT

LOTTERY LINGOSaskatoon Resident $10,000 Richer!Kristopher Rudnicki won $10,000 playing the Crossword Moneybag Tripler.

"I finished scratching the ticket and thought, 'I must be a $100 winner!', so I took the ticket to the store to get

my $100 bucks. The Retailer ran it through the Terminal and said, 'It's telling me there's $10,000 here!' I was

blown away!"

The ticket was purchased from the Co-op Westview Centre,1624 - 33rd Street West, in Saskatoon.

$10,000 Win in Carrot River!Tamara Buyaki won $10,000 playing Double Triple Cross-word.

“I thought it was $1,000 win, but then I realized that it was $10,000! I was speechless!”

The ticket was purchased at Nipawin Par-Mart, 600 Nipawin Road East, in Nipawin.

06 SEPTEMBER 2013

THE GREAT SASKATCHEWAN GPS CHALLENGE

The trail information is available on the Tourism Saskatch-ewan website at www.sasktourism.com/things-to-do/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-biking. But we need your help to main-tain this information and keep it accurate and up-to-date.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? 1. Notify us of any trail enhancements or closures.2. Provide photos of the trails. Good quality photographs are very important for the website, especially if the trailhead is difficult to find. 3. Provide any comments on driving to or finding the trail- head that will assist other trail users.4. Submit GPS data on your trail heads, or on the entire trail if possible. Providing GPS data will allow trail users to find your trail with their GPS unit. GPS data can be obtained by using a GPS unit, which can be borrowed from Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association. Booking information is online at www.spra.sk.ca.

HOW TO GATHER TRAILHEAD INFORMATION

When using a GPS to mark a coordinate, begin by turning the unit on prior to arriving at the trailhead so that it properly connects with satellites. It is best to mark a waypoint by ap-proaching the trailhead from multiple directions and watching your accuracy or EPE readings on the GPS. Do this 5-7 times and select the waypoint with the lowest EPE average; meaning ‘Give greater weight to a waypoint taken with three metres EPE than the one at 10 metres EPE.’ Some GPS units have the ability to take an average of a set of coordi-nates, others do not. Be aware that during bad weather or in an area with lots of tall trees, the accuracy of the GPS unit may be poor.

GOOGLE EARTH COORDINATES

Coordinates for a specific location can also be gathered using Google Earth. First, find the trailhead on Google Earth, then put the cursor on the trailhead. You’ll notice that wherever the cursor is on the map, the latitude and longitude coordinates for that point will appear at the bottom of the page. You can also place a marker at the location and the coordinates will appear in the summary sheet. The coordi-nates may not appear in the same format as on your GPS, but don’t be alarmed.

If you need to convert the coordinates from Google Earth or your GPS to another format, visit www.boulter.com/gps. Please note, that when using this site, the N and W need to be in front of the coordinates, otherwise the conversion will not work.

Please email coordinates and photos to Pat Rediger at info@sasktrails.ca. Thank you for supporting our trails.

Saskatchewan Trails Association recently completed an inventory of all trails in the province. This is a significant step toward promoting our trails, but we need your help!

SEPTEMBER 2013 07

Mayor of the City of Martensville, Kent Muench, said the new 50,000 square foot facility is the largest construction project ever undertaken in Martensville. It will add to the quality of life in Martensville which is already attracting new residents to the growing city. “The new facility and new construction and renovations to the high school will provide us with yet another venue for sport, improved spaces to educate our youth, and a place to enjoy arts and culture,” said Muench.

The new state-of-the-art facility will be comparable to the Physical Activity Complex at the University of Saskatchewan, featuring three full-size sports courts, a curved running track, and more. “Not only will the facility enhance the quality of life of our residents, but the City of Martensville will soon be a provincial destination for sporting events, enhancing the local economy and enhancing the attractiveness of hosting events in small centres which is great for Martensville,” Muench added.

The cost of the facility is budgeted at $12.5 million. The City of Martensville will fund $11.1 million of the project, and the provincial government has committed to contribute $1.4 mil-lion to the new facility.

Sponsorship is another key aspect of this facility with a number of businesses choosing to support this community project. Many of the sponsors were on hand for the sod turn-ing including MacNeil Motors, Dairy Queen, Hallmark Realty, TRX RV, TR Petroleum, JJ’s Landscaping, Duraroc Homes, North Prairie Developments, Affinity Credit Union, and Mocon Construction.

Linked to the project is new construction and renovations at Martensville High School. Plans for the school include a new gymnasium and performing arts theatre, and renovations to existing areas of the school.

The Honourable Nancy Heppner, Member of the Saskatch-ewan Party Legislative Assembly for Martensville, attended and spoke at the ceremony. “Your government is excited to be partnering with the City of Martensville in this project. The expansion of the high school is required, as Martensville con-tinues to grow. The addition of the sports and culture space will add to the quality of life that residents expect.”

Martensville Trustee, Bonnie Hope, attended the sod turning ceremony representing the Prairie Spirit School Division Board of Education. “Our expanded and renovated high school and the city’s new recreation facility will provide great opportunities for our students and for our community,” said Hope. “The Prairie Spirit Board of Education is proud of our partnership with the City of Martensville to serve our grow-ing community.” She added that the high school renovation and expansion project will double the size of Martensville High School to provide an excellent learning environment for Martensville students. The estimated cost of the high school new construction and renovations is $26.3 million.

Construction on the new Martensville Athletic Pavilion is expected to be completed by September 2014 and Mar-tensville high school students should be enjoying their new and renovated space by the fall of 2016. The facility will be constructed by Sprung Buildings, a company based outside Calgary that has been in operation for over 100 years.

Dillon ShewchukCommunity/Economic Development ManagerMartensville

NEW MARTENSVILLE ATHLETIC PAVILLIONProvincial and municipal government and school division officials gathered July 18 to celebrate the start of construction on the new Martensville Ath-letic Pavilion. The facility will be attached to the city’s high school, also un-dergoing new construction and renovation as part of the multi-million dollar project.

08 SEPTEMBER 2013

YEAR ROUND AT WATROUS

Saskatchewan provincial parks offer free entry into Provincial Parks, for Saskatchewan resident

seniors, who are or turning 65 years of age at any time during the current operating year. More information on this and other promotions are

available at www.saskparks.net.

After having recently moved to Watrous to become the new Recreation Director, I soon realized that there was very little to do for structured recreation enthusiasts. The Watrous swimming pool is extremely popular during the summer months as is Minor Ball, but that is about the only option for sporting activities in Watrous. After speaking with many people around town, I realized there was an opportunity to make use of the local facilities that sat idle during the summer months. Watrous, like many other municipalities in Saskatchewan, has an arena and curling rink that sit with the lights off for the majority of summer. There is also the issue with the “impossible to predict Saskatchewan weather” which can ruin many outdoor activities, that took weeks and months to plan, in a matter of minutes.

I decided to start looking into indoor recreation options that would appeal to the Town of Watrous, as well as the thou-sands of tourists that travel to Watrous/Manitou Beach during the summer. I have a small background in tennis (Assistant student coach at Bemidji State University in MN while I at-tended school) so naturally I decided to look into the possibil-ity of an indoor court.

The Town of Watrous has a beautiful curling facility that was perfect for the accommodation of an indoor tennis court. The main issue with using the curling rink was the ice being installed in October, so we could not drill holes or paint lines on the surface as that would affect that quality of the ice. After doing some research, I was able to locate a removable tennis net system that could be moved in and out whenever the town pleased.

I had put some thought into the Watrous Centennial Arena, however the arena is quite a bit larger than the curling rink and thus a little less intimate. Having one tennis court in a large arena would likely be a little overwhelming for two or four people to use. Besides, if the indoor court becomes popular then maybe we can look at putting a couple courts in the rink in a few years. One step at a time...

Fast forward one month later: the Town of Watrous has an indoor tennis court. The nets came from Kentucky, the removable system came from Europe and the removable lines came from Florida. The Watrous Indoor Court is con-veniently located right next to the Watrous swimming pool so that parents can sneak off for an hour or two to play a couple sets, while their children enjoy the water. Tennis Saskatch-ewan is coming at the end of the month to run a day camp for any interested children and parents who wish to learn a little more about the great sport of tennis. We have rackets and balls for rent if you just want to give tennis a try when it’s raining outside. If you are just swinging through Watrous and are looking for a quick set, call the office and I’ll be glad to show you how it’s done!

Until then, hope to see y’all on the court!

Colin PeetRecreation Director, Watrous

Learn how Watrous took a facility that traditionally sat idle

during the summer months, and turned it into a year round

recreation opportunity for residents and visitors.

SEPTEMBER 2013 09

RADVILLE SWIMMING POOL STAYS AFLOAT

The Radville swimming pool was first built in 1967 as a centennial project and served its community well for over 40 years. Unfortunately, during the summer season of 2010 the pool faced closure. It was evident the aged facility was near-ing the end of its life span both mechanically and structur-ally. The community was confronted with the challenge of somehow maintaining the swimming pool facility.

Closure of the pool created concern in the community. Con-sequently a group of individuals interested in the future of the swimming pool formed a steering committee in January of 2010. This group began gathering information on the needs of the public through a focus group and personal interviews. This information was integrated into considerations around pool construction and design options.

After a series of meetings and consultations with profession-als in the industry, several recommendations were put forth by the steering committee to the Radville Recreation Board.(1) Pool construction needed to occur within 3-5 years(2) Cost-efficiency and durability needed to be a priority(3) Pool design needed to incorporate public input

The decision was made to engage with MasterPools by Dominion Gunite, Calgary, to provide design and construc-tion services. The new pool was constructed within the existing pool structure and the existing mechanical room was incorporated into the pool design, which helped to make the project more cost effective.

In the spring of 2012, construction on the pool renovation be-gan and the project was complete by July 2013. Throughout the project, challenges were confronted including, compet-ing community projects and limited financial resources. Just one year prior, Radville had begun the construction of a new health care facility that needed to raise 6 million from its ser-vice area. The community felt both projects were important to the vitality of Radville and continued to move forward.

Radville, like many small rural communities in Saskatch-ewan, felt the effects of limited financial resources and minimal federal/provincial support. Surprisingly, a substantial amount of donations were received within 18 months of the start of the committee and the overwhelming support kicked the project into motion. The support from the public, through in-kind labour and equipment, contributed close to one third of the projects’ costs. Several times, nearing the last few weeks before the facility opened, volunteers showed up in the evenings on short notice. Employees from MasterPools were touched by the showing of dedicated volunteers and commented they did not witness anything like that in the city, with the exception during adversities, such as the recent flooding in Calgary.

The town of Radville is an excellent example of a group of community-minded citizens devoted to building a bet-ter place to live for years to come.

Corrine GalarneauTown of Radville

With the Radville Swimming Pool near the end of its life span, find out how the community dove in to stop the closure.

Built in 1967, the aged facility was nearing the end of its life span both mechanically and structurally.

10 SEPTEMBER 2013

COLLABORATING FOR SUCCESS COMMUNITY RINK AFFORDABILITY GRANT

In support of this infrastructure, the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport partnered with the Saskatchewan Parks and Rec-reation Association to offer the Community Rink Affordability Grant. The official grant announcement took place in Balg-onie on September 10, 2012.

The Community Rink Affordability Grant was awarded to fa-cilities with indoor ice surfaces. Skating and curling surfaces received funding of $2500.00 per ice surface. The program was available to schools, non-profit organizations, coopera-tives, municipal owned facilities and First Nations across Saskatchewan.

A total of $1,655,000.00 was distributed to 362 communities successfully registering 662 facilities; 401 skating surfaces and 261 curling surfaces received funding. All communities were appreciative of this added funding to enhance their operations for the 2012-2013 season. Testimonials from community representatives show the impact the Community Rink Affordability Grant had on their communities.

TESTIMONIALS

“In many small town Saskatchewan communities, the skating rink provides people with a source of entertainment and a way to get active. However, the cost to operate a rink is very high and puts a large strain on the small budgets that we have to work with. The money from the Community Rink Af-fordability Grant helps offset these costs and for that reason we are very grateful!”- Jubilee Stadium, Biggar

“This grant was used to hire a casual cleaner for our skating rink. Funds were used to pay a single mother of two a few extra dollars throughout the season and ensure that our rink was kept tidy and clean for all patrons. Thank you for your generosity.”- Birch Hills Arena, Birch Hills

“The Bienfait Coalfields Memorial Arena is a non-profit orga-nization that operates with the generosity and kindness from many volunteers. The facility relies on revenue from dona-tions and grants. This money was used to help purchase new emergency exit doors, which surround the ice surface. These doors are an essential part of community safety during all events held at the rink. During the winter months, the arena is a hub of activity for all age groups. The Arena Board en-courages participation in all sports held at the rink and wants to ensure that it is providing a safe environment in which to have fun, socialize, and participate in physical activity. The Arena enriches the lives of participants and spectators alike.”- Bienfait Coalfields Memorial Arena , Bienfait

“As with most small communities making ice and keeping our skating rink going is a major challenge. The Community Affordability grant was instrumental in helping us pay our caretaker, utility bills and other necessities that come with the upkeep up our rink. This grant enabled our organiza-tion to keep the rates for hockey, skating, etc. at reasonable amounts so ALL children in the community had a chance to participate in this facility. We would like to extend a huge Thank-you to the Government of Saskatchewan for this grant and the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association for administrating it.”- Blaine Lake Skating Rink, Blaine Lake

Saskatchewan is built on the strength of its communities and upon a history of vibrant, self-sufficient and socially supportive towns and cities. Healthy individuals and communities are dependent upon a recreation infrastructure that provides attractive and safe places in which to play, socialize, rejuvenate and challenge the mind, body and spirit.

SEPTEMBER 2013 11

“The Community Rink in Red Pheasant hasn't been opened in 3 years. This grant funding provided us the opportunity to do the repairs necessary to open the facility. The rink has been very busy, hosting 25-30 kids per night. This is keeping our community active and giving the youth something to do during the evenings and on weekends.”- Red Pheasant Sportsplex, Red Pheasant First Nation

The Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association wel-comed the opportunity to partner with the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport to administer the Community Rink Afford-ability Grant. It is evident from the hundreds of testimonials received that the 2012 – 2013 Grant was a success and the impact was felt throughout Saskatchewan. Both partners acknowledge that the Community Rink Affordability Grant has helped to increase the recreational opportunities for all citizens across the Province.

Tanya MurphySPRA Assistant Consultant, Funding and Youth

Debra Ashby, Bengough’s Recreation Director, tries out the new piece of equiptment.

Annually, as part of June is Recreation & Parks Month (JRPM), recreation service providers and park authori-ties throughout the country utilize June to celebrate the return of summer programming, to gather their com-munities together, recognize volunteers, get residents involved in fun outdoor physical activities, and gain support for the parks and recreation sectors.

Communities, agencies or groups are invited to become Ambassadors for the June is Recreation & Parks Month by recognizing JRPM at an activity or event or signing a JRPM proclamation. In 2012, all SPRA Ambassadors were entered into a draw for a piece of play equipment from Henderson Recreation Equipment Limited.

Our lucky winner of the 2012 JRPM Henderson Recre-ation Equipment draw, Bengough Parks and Recreation, have just finished installing their Cosmo Wave Climber in the playground areas next to the Bengough Pool.

Could this be your community next year? Jump in... and join the celebration!

SO MANY REASONS TO CELEBRATE!

UPCOMING COURSESArena Operators Level 1 - Ice Installation, Maintenance and Resurfacer OperationsSeptember 26 - 27 (Kindersley, SK)This course will discuss ice resurfacer operation, proper ice maintenance, air quality and trouble shooting.

Participants will receive the Arena Level 1 Certification on completion of this course.

Playground Inspector Certification ProgramNovember 4 - 7 (Saskatoon, SK)Offered by the Canadian Playground Safety Institute in conjunction with SPRA, this certification course, provides up-to-date theoretical and practi-cal knowledge about playground safety.

For more information or to register, contact Kelly Skotnitsky, SPRA Consultant, Recreation Facilities, by email at kskotnitsky@spra.sk.ca.

12 SEPTEMBER 2013

WHEN TO TAKE THE PLUNGE!

Many of you reading this will know, the busiest place in small town Saskatchewan during the summer is the community swimming pool. Folks cooling off on a hot summer’s day or kids taking their annual swim lessons, whatever the reason, from June to September it’s the place to be. The problem is that in Saskatchewan, many of those ever so popular holes in the ground are past their predicted life expectancy and either need major work or need to be replaced.

So what can you expect once you commit to the project?

Almost from opening day, 19 years ago, the Carlyle Swim-ming Pool Committee identified that they were going to have to be progressive and plan for future repairs and upgrades to their community pool. After paying off the original loans taken out to build the pool, the group focused on fundraising for the planned expansion. Since 2002, the group has held an annual fundraiser to cover the cost of operations. Along with generous grants, they were able to be self-sufficient. In 2009, they added another annual fundraiser, a golf tournament, to shore up the repairs fund.

In the spring of 2012, a $70,000 repair to the pool liner that ended up being $160,000, sidelined their expansion plans. It was decided that they would have to postpone the expan-sion for another year. Once completed, the swimming pool committee pushed their fundraising efforts to add a 70,000L addition with a beach entry and some water features for the little kids to play in.

They sent out letters to local businesses and larger oil com-panies asking for financial assistance in return for advertising or naming rights of the pool. Selling the naming rights to the pool was a huge help. “We were fortunate to have Crescent Point Energy respond positively to our request. Now we are known as the Crescent Point Community Pool! You can’t be afraid to ask” stated Rianna French, Carlyle Swimming Pool Board President, “you never know what might happen”.

“It has been amazing how the community has come together to make this happen, we have had some generous donations from the local business community and many people do-nated their expertise and time to bring this project to comple-tion. I would like to thank everyone again for their hard work and generosity.”

“Overall the project went quite smoothly, we did have to deal with a really late spring and above average rainfall which set us back about 3 weeks. Our contractor pulled their RV right onto the site and we all worked hard to make up lost time. A couple of the guys had wives who were expecting babies back home, and they worked right up to the last minute. We were really lucky to have such a dedicated and professional contractor. It feels great to be done and now we can all enjoy what is basically a brand new pool for years to come.”

“If I could give one piece of advice from what I learned from this, it would be to approach it as a hands-on project and have someone with knowledge and expertise about oper-ating a pool at the job site on a regular basis to oversee everything. We had someone there to operate the sump pumps on days when the contractors were not there due to poor weather. That helped ensure that they could get back to work quickly without having to wait for the site to dry out. At the end of the project, he was also able to tell us if we had received everything promised in our contract. The project would not have gone as smoothly had we signed the con-tract and expected to show up on opening day. There were a few hiccups that we were able to catch along the way which resulted in the pool being completed as desired in a timely manner. That being said, we couldn't control the weather; Mother Nature was the real project manager that dictated our work schedule.”

Morgan GraingerField Consultant Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association

This success story from Southeast Saskatchewan will give you insight into the process behind rejuvenating your community swimming pool.

SEPTEMBER 2013 13

SHELLBROOK SPRAY PARK

I will take you back to the start, when in 2011 the paddling pool collapsed into itself. Quite obviously this made the facility unusable and with that fairly costly to replace or even repair. Care of the paddling pool had already proven to be very expensive in terms of maintaining chemical levels and water standards. This is when Recreation Director at the time, Cassie Bendig, came up with the idea to install a brand new splash pad.

While I cannot speak for Cassie, I assume that her thoughts of this idea centred on the potential efficiency of a Splash Pad. Other installations of splash pads and parks had proven to be very successful and easily maintainable. So although initial costs for installation would be close to that of a pad-dling pool, the ongoing costs would be minimal in compari-son. The hydraulic system on a splash pad allows the water to run for set periods of time, a shut off valve preventing overuse and excessive water consumption, no chemicals and during winter the lines would simply be blown out. While Shellbrook Swimming Pool could have survived without a paddling pool, it did exclude children 3 feet and under from enjoying the facility without a swim aid (and those who were not yet used to the water). Our main priorities for the entire swimming pool facility was participation and physical activity, so providing something for these target groups was essential to the promotion of an active lifestyle.

Cassie searched for quotes for the project, but only one company really went the extra mile and delivered an in depth overview of what the finished product would be. Park N Play provided us with a quote, extensive blue prints, perspective views of what the facility would look like, not forgetting end-less time and advice with regards to the entire project. Funding was the main factor for the outcome of this idea. Cassie applied for the ‘Community Infrastructure Improve-ment Fund in July of 2012 and this was awarded to us in October 2012, just as I was stepping into the role of Recre-

ation Director. From then on the project was all go and the process was really very simple. Working in partnership with Steve Van Meer from Park N Play, we established a date for installation of May 2013.

We faced a few challenges during this process; the first was waiting for the snow to disappear! When it had, the Town maintenance workers, here in Shellbrook, began the process by filling in the paddling pool and preparing it for Park N Play. The second issue was with the manufacturer that Park N Play used for the equipment. This resulted in the equipment being delivered later than agreed, but this issue was quickly resolved by Park N Play. Believe it or not, the entire installa-tion was complete in just short of two weeks, just in time for the opening of the swimming pool facility. Since the installa-tion we’ve had a couple of hiccups with the operation of the system but they were quickly resolved.

We opened the spray pad by inviting the Pre-K students from Shellbrook Elementary School to use the facility. From the moment they stepped on that hydraulic pad and the water started to spray, all that could be heard on the streets of Shellbrook was squeals and laughter. The facility contin-ues to be fully utilized, not only by the small children it was designed for! Children of all ages are using the splash pad, which is fantastic to see. The facility is not just a fun way of cooling off on a summer’s day but also a tool to help new swimmers get used to water and prepared for swimming les-sons.

For the years ahead, we hope that the splash pad will attract more users from outside of Shellbrook and in turn will in-crease the participation in physical activity, which at the end of the day is our main goal.

Jenny Hosie Shellbrook Recreation Director

So what do you do with a paddling pool that is dated and unusable? That is the question the Town of Shellbrook had to ask themselves, just over a year ago.

14 SEPTEMBER 2013

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