The Southland Co-op arena kick off party, held on June 26, set the scene for a donation from the Co-op Community Spaces program to the Assiniboia Civic Improvement Association. Ken Bahuaud, general manager of the Southland Co-op, presented the $75,000 in funding to CIA president Curtis Nelson.
“The Co-op has been the largest supporter of the new arena project in Assiniboia. The support from the Co-op for this project has exceeded the committee’s expectations and we are very proud to have partnered with such a progressive organization,” he added.
The kick off party at the new arena site across from the Prince of Wales Centre also doubled as a Co-op staff appreciation event. It was a family occasion with hot-dogs, drinks and ice cream being served by Southland Co-op staff with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to the arena.
The Kinettes manned a booth with free cotton candy, popcorn and activities for the children along with a bouncy castle and hoola hoops. The adults set up lawn chairs to listen to the live band, The Badlands Country Band.
The Co-op Community Spaces is a funding program established by the Federated Co-op supporting recreation, environmental conservation and urban agriculture projects. In total, 27 organizations are being supported through the program this year. The CIA’s bid was one of 1,150 applications. “Co-op Community Spaces is an exciting program that is making a difference across Western Canada and we’re delighted to see it come to Assiniboia,” said Bahuaud. The Federated Co-op has handed out $2 million to projects across Western Canada. In 2017 individual projects were eligible to receive up to $150,000 through Co-op Community Spaces. Since launching in 2015, Co-op Community Spaces has provided $4.5 million to more than 60 projects across B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Southland Co-op is a major sponsor of the arena, committing $300,000 as the title sponsor. “Through their efforts the project has been fast tracked by at least a year. Thank-you for all you do in the community, it does not go unnoticed,” said Nelson. In response, Bahuaud added, “Southland Co-op is supported and owned by members and customers throughout south-central Saskatchewan, so it’s important that we give back and make investments in our community and people, which is what Co-op Community Spaces is all about.”
Southland Co-op is a retail Co-operative that has served south-central Saskatchewan for more than 78 years. Today, it has more than 8,000 members in Assiniboia, Coronach, Gravelbourg, Lafleche, Mossbank and Willow Bunch, where it operates food stores, gas bars, agro-bulk petroleum, liquor and pharmacy.
Nelson reported to those gathered about the progress made on the arena project. The arena has been budgeted at $8 million and over $4.3 million has been collected with additional financing expected. Three companies are bidding on the project and the CIA is choosing a project manager. Building is expected to begin this summer.
The new arena will be a high-quality, modern arena that will serve Assiniboia and surrounding area long into the future. The new facility will be named the Southland Co-op Arena. It will accommodate approximately 1,000 spectators and feature 70 climate-controlled seats, as well as LED lighting and a conference room for coaching and referee clinics. The Assiniboia Civic Improvement Association board members include Curtis Nelson, Tim Dlouhy, Mike Krauss, Kim Eckland, Gerald Muldoun and Hali Booth.
