Rivers Banner

   A growing need to repair or replace Hamiota’s sports complex roof was evident this July when buckets of rain came down on Hamiota Fair day and, sure enough, the rink’s roof leaked. Now, the good news – replacement will not be necessary and repairs are going ahead this fall.  The sports complex board of directors’ worst fears were allayed recently when Flynn Canada Ltd., a company specializing in repair and maintenance of large facility roofs, came and assessed Hamiota rink’s roof.

   President of the rink board, Ryan Tolton said, “Through all the fundraising we did with the concert we are able to fund the project fully as it was not as big of an issue as we thought. We definitely were thinking it would be a bigger issue than it was.

“We had Flynn Canada Ltd. come out and provide us a quote on what they think needs to be done to the roof. They should be coming in the next while, (weather permitting) to fix the problems that they found,” said Tolton in a recent email.

The concert was a mid-July event hosted by the sports complex. At the Kendra Kay “Raise the Roof” concert Kay and her band plus Bethel Road Music entertained. The evening included draws and donation opportunities.

CURLING VIEWING

Who is closest to the button? This season, from the comfort of the upstairs viewing area, curling spectators will be able to see the shots delivered to the far end of the rink.

“The curling club and the complex have installed cameras to help the spectators experience,” says Tolton.  Considered a capital project for the sports complex, Wes Gregory, for the Hamiota Curling Club said that through Acres for Hamiota’s last year harvest the rink received funding for 50 per cent of the project’s cost.

It was an $8,100 project and with two community volunteers doing much of the installation, Gregory said, “That saved us a ton of money… and it all worked – out of the box.”  He added that his daughter curls competitively, so the family has been in many Manitoba rinks. He said that Hamiota was one of just a few curling rinks that were not equipped with camera viewing.

   Just this past week another $1,200 came from community members as well as “a handshake on another $1,900.” Gregory says, “Continuing donations will help us continue improving the curling experience for our members, spectators, and visiting players. As a thank you, every donor will be recognized with a plaque displayed in the curling club. Every donation, big or small, is greatly appreciated.”

   Curling has been a strong interest in Hamiota for all ages. Gregory says in recent years the junior program has had 15 to 18 kids involved. Curling’s future looks bright in Hamiota.