Members of the Linaria and District Agricultural Society met with Westlock County council last week, to ask for a yearly contribution of $35,000 to keep the Linaria Arena open.
Ag Society directors Zach Olthuis and Caleb Wierenga presented the proposal at council’s Sept. 11 meeting, asking for the money to cover utilities and diesel for the ice plant’s generator. Without the county’s support Ag Society members and other Linaria area residents fear this will be the last winter the arena will be open.
Council did not make a decision on a contribution for the arena, but listened intently to the delegation and asked many clarifying questions afterwards.
“During this whole time since inception, to our knowledge, we’ve always operated independent of municipal support, so that’s worth noting,” said Olthuis.
He went on to lay out how the arena’s financials stack up. The Alberta government grants the Ag Society $29,000; $35,000 comes from ice fees; $17,000 from fundraising; and $5,000 from a casino every two years.
“Grants are not a huge benefit to us because they’re just for funding for new projects. There’s really nothing available for operating costs. This year the money received by the ag society went to cover last year’s debt,” said Olthuis, pointing out that utility and diesel costs have increased to the point where it is no longer viable to operate the arena.
There have also been several required upgrades to equipment as well as two fires to deal with in the last decade, which led to unexpected costs.
“We were operating on slim financials before that and that really painted us into a corner,” said Olthuis.
“We’re projecting to come out of this season approximately $25,000 to $35,000 in debt. We’re planning to still open and run this season, but we’re projecting we’ll come out in the hole ... If that’s the situation we’d be forced to close the arena.”
The arena currently caters to seven men’s hockey teams and one women’s team, along with two ringette teams and six fun hockey teams.
As ice space is limited, there are also times when the arena is used for overflow or much-needed practice space for minor hockey teams from around the region, which makes it a busy place throughout the season and a place that will be missed by many if it is forced to close.
“The service that we provide to Westlock County and surrounding communities is a recreational outlet that is so crucial in the winter months when there are limited recreational opportunities. Displaced users from a closed Linaria Arena would have to foreclose their teams as other local arenas are operating near capacity,” said Olthuis.
