Residents of Edam and the Rural Municipality (RM) of Turtle River are still reveling in the official opening of their newly expanded Community Centre.

That occurred during the Canada Day long weekend, which also marked the 100th anniversary of the Village of Edam and the RM of Turtle River, officials say.

“The project consisted of demolishing everything except the ice surface area of the skating rink and curling rink, then rebuilding and expanding so that everything is now under one roof,” Village Administrator Trudy McMurphy says. The new facility, which is also the community hall, is able to accommodate approximately 500 people and includes a kitchen fully furnished with all new equipment, a play room for the children, a viewing area for the curling, and new bathrooms with modern, up-to-date fixtures.”

The revitalized community centre will accommodate structured physical and recreational activities for all age groups. Federal and provincial funding went towards upgrading the foundation, improving heating and electrical systems, rehabilitating and expanding the existing curling rink, improving the energy efficiency of the facility, and constructing the multi-use facility to join the skating and curling arenas with a joint waiting room, washroom and kitchen facility.

McMurphy says the entire project cost about $2.4 million. The federal and provincial governments covered the lion’s share of those costs under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program through the federal government’s Economic Action Plan.

The federal government kicked in $500,000, and the provincial government contributed $600,000. McMurphy says organizers also received some funding from the Provincial Community Initiatives Fund and the Agri-Spirit Fund.

The RM of Turtle River gave $100,000 in funding, $400,000 in an interest free loan and purchased a generator so that the facility could be used as an evacuation centre in the event of a disaster.

Other funding came from the board of the Community Centre, corporate sponsorships and personal donations.

McMurphy says the project began April 1, 2010 and was completed by Oct. 31 last year.

She says residents love the result.
“Everybody is just in awe,” she said during an interview with the Daily News. “They’ve done very well.”

McMurphy says project organizers used as much local labour as possible and bought from as many local suppliers as they could.
Lots of politicians were on hand for the grand opening and dedication of the newly upgraded community centre.

“This ‘new’ Community Centre is not only our Recreation Centre, it is our Community Hall and Emergency/Disaster Centre,” Edam Mayor Larry McDaid said. “With a generator capable of supplying full power to the entire facility, we can house and feed displaced residents in the time of emergency.”

“We are very grateful for the federal and provincial grants, as well as the support of the RM of Turtle River and particularly the countless people who volunteered time and pledged financial support,” McDaid added.

Battlefords-Lloydminster MP Gerry Ritz attended on behalf of Lynne Yelich, the federal Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification. Cut Knife-Turtleford MLA Larry Doke was also there on behalf of Government Relations Minister Jim Reiter.

“Congratulations to the Village of Edam on the completion of the twinning of the hockey and curling arenas,” Ritz said. “Our government is proud of this investment, which has created jobs and growth locally, while improving the quality of life for the citizens of Edam and the surrounding area.”

Doke also addressed the crowd.

"The improvements to the Edam Community Centre will ensure everyone can take part in a healthy active lifestyle," he said. "Recreational infrastructure is often the hub of activity in our local communities and we are pleased to be contributing to the Saskatchewan Advantage through these investments.”