Lynn Lake’s Jim McLellan Arena reopened for its first full season since 2011-12 on Dec. 7 thanks to the efforts of volunteers and some grant funding from the provincial government and the Manitoba Community Services Council.
The town council decided earlier this year, after discussions with community residents, that the local arena was a cornerstone of the community and could not remain closed any longer even though it wasn’t possible for the municipality to absorb all the operating costs. The solution chosen was to operate the arena on the basis of volunteer support with additional expenses – mainly heating and lighting – to be covered by arena membership fees, scheduled event fees and volunteer-driven fundraising drives.
“In order to make this day and the reopening of the arena possible, the Town of Lynn Lake would like to extend our warmest thanks to the 30 or so community members who have made the desire to reopen this facility for the 2014-15 season a reality,” said Lynn Lake Mayor James Lindsay at the grand reopening ceremony, which was attended by around 200 residents, close to one-third of the northern community’s total population. “The reopening of the arena today would not be possible if the community had not come together as a group to make this happen. This community has a long history of volunteering, and to find tasks that need doing one need not look very far. Once we identify a goal we would like to achieve, we rarely ask, ‘How much will it cost?’ or ‘Who will we find to do it?’”
Skilled labour to perform repairs at the facility was provided by volunteers and the town also received capital funding through the province’s Community Places grant program and the Manitoba Community Services Council.
Lynn Lake’s council passed a resolution on Dec. 2 establishing the Lynn Lake arena board as a committee of council. It includes newly acclaimed councillors Trevor Kruzer and Paul Grimmer as well as three members from the community at large. The town council is seeking interest from three residents who would like to be nominated as arena board members.
“The mandate of this board includes providing direction and guidance for the operation of this facility with the goal of continued self-sustainable operation of the facility year-round, and not just at times when the ice surface is in place,” said Lindsay at the reopening ceremony, noting that having the arena in operation is good for the region as well as Lynn Lake itself. “This facility will not only serve the Town of Lynn Lake this season, but it will also welcome visitors from across Northwest Manitoba and beyond in the spirit of camaraderie that has become the key to neighbourly relationships not only here, but with our friends and families from Black Sturgeon Falls, Leaf Rapids, South Indian Lake, Brochet, Lac Brochet, Tadoule Lake, and beyond.”
The grand reopening ceremony also included a special guest, Santa Claus, who skated with those in attendance and provided treat bags for the children at the end of the event.
