Yellowhead Centre adopts new capital plan
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, January 20, 2016
By Eoin Devereux
The Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press
The board of directors for the Yellowhead Centre has some big plans for the facility’s future; those plans include a major upgrade and expansion. On Monday, Jan. 18, The Yellowhead Centre (YHC) board passed a motion to implement a revised capital plan, which may include spending from part of a pre-approved line of credit made available from the Beautiful Plains Credit Union. The board is also actively pursuing several government grant opportunities which may be available.
YHC board chair Darian Major said it’s time to move on this upgrade effort, noting that while the facility is still in relatively good shape, it was simply the right time to explore affordable expansion and repairs.
“We haven’t made any significant capital improvements for a number of years, so I think the user groups and community will be excited about this plan,” noted Major. “The Yellowhead Arena and Hall are a significant leisure and recreational facility in our community used for promoting a healthy lifestyle, social events and community building. We want to have a facility that everyone can be proud of. We welcome everyone’s feedback as we move forward with our new capital initiatives.”
The motion was developed and moved by past YHC chairman Ken Waddell after he gathered ideas and opinions from the community and board members for several years. Waddell said as a result of the many years of hard work and community support, the Yellowhead Centre has money in the bank and a reserve fund of $125,000. He added however, that while that seems like a lot of money, it’s not, when it comes to a community facility of this nature.
“Compared to the cost of a new facility, such as we have seen built in other communities that cost $10-20 million, [the existing reserve] it’s peanuts. It’s nowhere even enough money to do this plan we have put forward, but it’s a really good start,” stressed Waddell.
As recently as 10 years ago, the YHC had a significant debt load, but under the diligent management of the board and the tireless effort of Director of Operations Ann Kuharski, the debt load has been eliminated.
As for some of the improvements being envisioned by the YHC board, they include new dressing rooms on the south side of the arena, installation of an adequate capacity dehumidifier as well as upgraded arena heating and lighting. Plans for the hall portion of the facility would focus on improving the flow of activities by re-arranging the stage section to the east end with a “backstage” area created, to screen the washroom/kitchen area from view and provide an area for stage productions and a smaller rentable meeting/dining room. Other plans in the structure include stripping out the second floor dressing rooms to remove deteriorated walls and plumbing to allow for construction of a meeting room and storage area. As well, the ticket booth area at the main entrance of the arena will be re-arranged to provide a more efficient traffic flow and bring the entrance and exit in line with safety codes.
The board has one Community Places grant already approved that they are planning to use towards the arena lighting upgrade. The lighting improvements may go ahead as early as this spring. The other projects will be financed by applying for government grants, out of operating funds, reserve funds and where needed by borrowing the necessary capital.
Neepawa’s Yellowhead Centre is a non-profit community owned recreation facility that was first developed in 1971. The facility is home to many local organizations including the Neepawa Natives Junior A Hockey Club, the Neepawa Farmers, Neepawa Tigers high school hockey team and local minor hockey. It is also home to the Neepawa Figure Skating Club, Synchro Skating and wide array of other programs.
