It’s a cold Saturday night on the windswept prairies. As just about anyone from a small community can attest, the skating rink is the place to be – the central hub of social activity.
With a little help from Southland Co-op, three arenas in southern Saskatchewan have seen new life breathed into them – generating more of an attraction than ever before.
Through Co-op’s Communities in Full Colour Program – a philanthropic initiative that donates CO-OP® IMAGINE paint to non-profit projects – Southland Co-op was able to brighten up the local rinks in its trading area as well as five other structures, including a museum, park gazebo, curling rink, seniors’ drop-in centre and golf course clubhouse. In total, Southland Co-op donated more than 1,250 gallons of paint.
While all these projects are incredibly valuable to their respective locales, Julianne Heagy, Southland’s Member Relations Officer, said the facelifts given to the arenas in Mossbank, Gravelbourg and Coronach will provide the biggest impact to local residents.
“During the winter, they bring everyone out of their homes and into the warmth of the arena,” she said.
Of the three arenas, the Coronach Sportsplex saw the biggest transformation. With about 20 volunteers pitching in, the bleachers were refreshed from a faded orange – originally sourced from a nearby power plant’s leftover paint decades earlier – to a brilliantly bright shade of blue. As well, hand railings and floorboards received renewed treatments of black, grey and white.
“It’s so much more uplifting,” Heagy enthused.
Just as uplifting as the paint job was the level of community engagement displayed by the residents of Coronach. Catching the charity fever, local electricians and sound experts lent a hand in installing a new arena sound system.
“It was a real community-spirit thing on top of the gifting of the paint,” Heagy said. “I think there were a lot of projects that wouldn’t have happened had there not been this program – it was a sort of catalyst to get them going.”
Heagy, who personally helped pitch in, was left feeling inspired by the transformations. She beamed over the lasting legacy that will serve the communities for generations to come.
“Imagine what a boost these bright new stands will be to the hockey players and figure skaters, feeling worthy of the time and effort of all the volunteers,” she said, noting the appropriate nature of the paint line’s name.
“Imagine the impact on the children who came and played on the ice surface as their parents and grandparents painted – these children will grow up knowing the importance of serving their community.”
It’s a community spirit that will continue when local residents go to cheer on the home team – the Coronach Merchants, Gravelbourg Hornets and Mossbank Blades of the Notekeu Hockey League – from freshly painted bleachers.
