KENOSEE LAKE - Together with the Village of Kenosee Lake, the Moose Mountain Lions Club is fulfilling a long-term dream of constructing and maintaining a new outdoor skating rink at Kenosee Lake.
The Observer met up with Kent Sauter, Brent Ruthven and Ed Plumb for some background.
The Moose Mountain Lions Club was formed in 2010 with Kent Sauter presently being its past-president and a charter member. Brent Ruthven joined the club in 2012. When formed, the local club made it their goal to provide and promote greenspace in Kenosee and the Moose Mountain Provincial Park.
Ed Plumb is the mayor of the Village of Kenosee Lake. Eight years ago, they purchased some property on the north end of the village which consisted of an old skating rink and where mobile homes were located for the conversation officers of the park.
Working together, in 2017 the village and Lions Club tore down the existing structure, and added both a gazebo and new playground equipment.
With a number of families in the village becoming younger and raising children, both the Moose Mountain Lions and the village felt it was in their best interests to construct an outdoor skating facility.
Six years ago, a gas-powered Zamboni was purchased from the Village of Kennedy and three years ago, a building was erected that houses both home and visitor dressing rooms, washrooms and a room to store the Zamboni. It is fully enclosed, operational, and heated.
The construction of the skating rink, which started this year, is now complete and the regulation ice surface is now fully boarded with Plexiglas to be later installed this year. It is a dream of the Moose Mountain Lions Club to add on a pole shed roof which could then be also used for outdoor gatherings and weddings during the summer months.
Sauter and Plumb have been very impressed with the local volunteer labour and the many donations received during the past few years. They estimate that nearly $500,000 has been poured into this project with generous grants being received from both the municipal and provincial governments, C & M Homes, and the Bear Claw Casino through its Community Development Corporation, among others.
Said Sauter: “It is a great ongoing project that has attracted a lot of interest from Kenosee Lake and the surrounding area. Our work has not gone unnoticed.”
Added Plumb: “On behalf of the village, I am extremely pleased with the local co-operation of the Moose Mountain Lions Club, its members, the village, and our community at large, I am ecstatic with being part of this seamless partnership.”
The Moose Mountain Lions Club presently has 18 active and energetic members. The present executive consists of president Stu Balfour, vice-president Jillian Armstrong, secretary Ainsley Sauter and treasurer Barb Swanson.
Operating the skating rink facilities and the Zamboni is all done by local volunteers including members of the Kenosee Sloughsharks hockey team. Not one person is being paid. Although formal skating fees are not being levied, costs are being defrayed by selling advertising on the rink boards or by e-transferring cash donations to the Moose Mountain Lions Club.
If donations are provided through the Village of Kenosee office, an official tax receipt will be issued.
