Richard Froese
South Peace News

An outdoor skating rink in Grouard overtaken by weeds and garbage will be repaired in the coming months as a community project planned by Big Lakes County.

At its regular meeting Aug. 14, discussed a notice of motion from Grouard Councillor Jeff Chalifoux to repair the rink.

Council passed a motion that administration and the community jointly plan and develop a strategy to renovate and upgrade the existing skating rink.

“People in the community have been talking to me about it,” Chalifoux says.

“They want to reposition it and pave it to make it usable year-round.

“They want to start using it this winter.”

The used outdoor skating rink structure was constructed in 2018 as a project of the Grouard Community Association that leased the county land on Fourth Ave NE, east of the Grouard Municipal Services Building across from Grouard Northland School.

Over winter 2018-19, some the boards collapsed.

Although the boards were repaired, the rink has not been maintained for many years.

The association also dissolved around 2020.

“We need some help in planning,” Chalifoux says.

He says the rink in a local priority.

“Residents within Grouard have reached out and advised that they would like Big Lakes County to prioritize the renovation of the skating rink for the citizens of Grouard and the surrounding area before focussing on building a community hall,” Chalifoux says in the notice of motion.

In the notice of motion, he says recreation is a priority in the county’s strategic plan.

“The first pillar of the county’s strategic plan is that we envision Big Lakes County as a place were residents enjoy a high quality of life, enhanced by access to essential services, recreational opportunities and a strong sense of community,” the notice says.

“Our plan prioritizes the development of vital infrastructure, including recreational facilities and creating an environment where health care and education can flourish.

“Part of our plan is to prioritize the development of vital infrastructure, including recreational facilities.”