If you fix it, they will come

From today's paper (there was also a Klipper story, but I'm home sick this afternoon and I don't have that one on this computer):

Kindersley unites to celebrate return of arena

JOSH LEWIS

The Clarion

Finally.

After nine long months without a place to strap on the blades, hold social gatherings and feel the pulse of the community, Kindersley banded together on Saturday to celebrate the return of the West Central Events Centre.

Events were scheduled all day, ranging from skating to a barbecue to rink tours to a dance, designed to include as many people as possible.

"To see the kids around there again was awesome. To see everybody back in the rink was a thrill," said Kindersley Minor Hockey president Brett Sautner. "It’s overwhelming how much work was put in to get it going."

Indeed, Walker Projects worked with several local contractors to complete the massive project of restoring the arena in a period of several months.

"What we accomplished was a huge task given the time that we had to do it," said project manager Milt Walker. 

"We didn’t start thinking about the addition until May 20 and we didn’t move ahead until the first of June. We had to construct an entire addition and do the interior work in four months."

Walker credited local contractors Pro-Bilt, Luk Plumbing and Tarnes Electric, as well as town officials, for re-allocating their resources to the WCEC site.

It's no secret that there was a good deal of doubt in the community over whether the process would be finished in time. Walker said he understands why that was the case.

"The skepticism was well-founded. We didn’t get it done by much," he said. "We knew that all the dust wouldn’t be out of all the corners, so to speak, but we felt we could get it done."

Cleaning was still being done Friday evening in order to get the concession area open, and there are still various odds and ends to be taken care of.

"We knew it would be that close, but we thought we could do it," Walker added. "I felt a great sense of satisfaction. I was really proud of all the people that had worked on it."

Klippers president Rod Perkins praised all parties for the hours put in to ensure the process would cause only minimal disruption to hockey season.

"I think everybody that was involved deserves a real pat on the back. It was a lot of work, it was a short timeframe and the building looks great."

Saturday's festivities included a fall figure skating school, several goalie camps, formal tours of the new-look facility, a chamber barbecue, a re-opening ceremony and the Klippers' home opener against Battlefords. Following the game, a cabaret dance was held next door at the curling club.

The ceremony, held at 6 p.m., featured speeches from several dignitaries and local officials, including deputy mayor Tom Geiger, MLA Bill Boyd, mayor Wayne Foster, town administrator Sherry Magnuson, Walker, SJHL president Laury Ryan, Kindersley Minor Sports president Brenda Walde and Kindersley Curling Club president Randy Graham.

"I can’t tell you how excited we are to be here and we really just want to thank all the people that made this happen," said Ryan. "There were days when we were wondering if the Klippers were going to be around."

Klippers head coach Larry Wintoneak said his club is relieved to be home again. He believes this ordeal will make locals think twice about taking their arena for granted.

"For us, we’re really happy to be back in our home barn. I’ve said it many times, it’s been the longest road trip that I’ve ever been on. It’s really good to be back home," said Wintoneak.

"It’s big for our community because people realize now how important the rink is. It is part of our fabric and there’s a lot of social activity that goes on at a rink, and there’s many good ideas that come from that. It’s good to have everybody back in one building again. I think everybody’s happy, everybody’s smiling."

Perkins said the team is happy to be in its own rink again, particularly with the club's new dressing room and fitness facility.

"Every one of those players is just thrilled to be here right now."

Sautner cautioned that the ice schedule will be very tight with only one surface, and that some travel may still be necessary.

"It was a hard thing for everybody to go through, and I hope everybody keeps in mind that we only have one rink and starts putting up their hand to volunteer," he added.

As for the new arena, Oct. 20 is the closing date for design-build proposals from four firms. Walker said he hopes to have the tender awarded next month and to break ground on the new building in early January, if all goes well. He said government funding is a possibility for the project.

"I think it’s going to be very challenging to open it by (next) hockey season, the start of it," he acknowledged.