KAMSACK — Kamsack employees concerned with recreation and community development are pleased that some of their initiatives are already yielding success, while others hold promise for the year unfolding.
Working from their space in the town office are Fitz Shaw, who is responsible for recreation and community development, and Ambur Hrooshkin, whose main interest is in community development.
Both are being applauded by Mayor Beth Dix, who has said that their work is fantastic and should bear positive results.
Regarding facilities, Shaw said that there has been success with increased community use of the Broda Sportsplex skating rink, which is fully booked month by month and that involvement in the sport of curling is increasing.
In winter, the Sportsplex is the “heart of the community,” he said, adding that Hrooshkin is proceeding with the Kraft Hockeyville project, which will help demonstrate its value to residents.
“We’d love to see the Broda centre win the Hockeyville project,” Hrooshkin said, explaining that the project involves residents sharing stories of the rink and then judges will screen the entries to determine which community will win $250,000 for rink upgrades and an NHL game in the community. There will be a second prize of $100,000, and 11 third prizes of $50,000 each.
“The competition begins with the nomination and rally phase, during which communities across Canada submit stories explaining why their community should be the next Kraft Hockeyville,” said information on the Kraft Hockeyville website. “Our judges will review the nominations, calculate the total scores, and select a winner from every province and territory, each receiving $50,000 for arena upgrades, or more, if the community advances to the Top 2. From there, the judges will announce the Top 2 finalists selected from the provincial and territorial winners, who will then compete head-to-head in a nationwide vote to determine the Kraft Hockeyville 2026 grand prize winner.
“Your arena’s score comes from two main categories: a nomination story will account for 80 per cent of the total score, while the remaining 20 per cent will come from your arena’s community’s total rally points.”
“Kamsack has a long hockey history, and we’d love to see the community rally and share stories of the impact the rink has made on them and their families,” Shaw said. To be among the winners, Kamsack will require full community partnership.
The adjusted rates for use of the OCC Hall have resulted in a high uptick of its use, he said, listing birthday parties, training conferences, weddings and public meetings as examples of events being held in the facility.
Shaw said planning has begun for spring and summer recreation, where the swimming pool and sportsground become the focus.
If weather co-operates, plans are to have the swimming pool open sooner than the last part of June, which has been the practice in the past, he said. “Maybe we can open from early to mid-June.”
With Canada being one of three countries to host the World Cup this year, plans are to make soccer and the World Cup a theme for the community’s Canada Day celebration, he said, explaining that a youth soccer group as well as an adult group that has been playing on a pitch outdoors and in the school gymnasium in winter will be favoured for Canada Day competitions.
Plans are to hold a networking meeting in early spring with participation of all the clubs and organizations so that partnerships can be encouraged and members will better get to know one another and realize that, regarding funding, all are on a similar page, he said. Working together would be much easier than each group working on its own.
The meeting will deal with donations, fundraising and access to grants, he said. Resulting from the workshop could be a grant-writing workshop that would give a group more confidence to apply for funds and would teach members the language, or certain tone that is required to apply for funding.
Likening the funding situation to a cake, Shaw said that because Kamsack has 30 registered groups all needing funding, each group might be able to obtain a small slice of that cake. But when the groups work together, a slice that several groups may get when working together will be much larger.
Hrooshkin was keen to acknowledge the work of the Heart and Home Quilting Club, which is doing “phenomenal work.”
Members of the group are wonderful folks, and it is a privilege to help them obtain funding, she said.
Also, an application is being made to the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) and if approved, plans are for an arborist to visit the community to work with the horticulture society and schools to help TD with its proposal to plant a million trees by 2030.
The arborist being considered is related to the Vanin family of Pelly and could help revitalize and expand Kamsack’s urban orchard, Hrooshkin said, explaining that the site could benefit by a good going over and could be enhanced with the addition of other plants such as certain types of rhubarb and horseradish, different raspberries, plums and pears.
Shaw said plans are underway to develop a summer play program that will be free for all the area’s children and would use the sportsground, skate park and swimming pool to encourage youths to leave their electronic devices at home and play outdoors.
The program will begin on July 6 and last from three to five weeks, depending on funding, he said, emphasizing that the program would be for youngsters from the entire region, including Madge Lake, Togo, the First Nation communities, Pelly and Veregin.
Hrooshkin said that an application will be made to the Community Foundation Fund to work with SIGN (Society for the Involvement of Good Neighbours) for playground enhancement and explained that even without funding, efforts will be made to push ahead.
On Feb. 10, the Recreation Needs Assessment Survey will be formally released to gauge what people of Kamsack want to see in the community regarding recreation and development.
Participants’ names will be placed in a draw for a gift card.
“We need to get a bearing of where the community needs to go,” Shaw said. “We need their participation.”
Hrooshkin said that the survey is to be posted on the Kamsack website and will have a Facebook link. Persons without Internet are invited to visit the Town Office, where printed copies of the survey will be available.
Shaw said that the Town of Kamsack has been responsible for recent charitable works, including the donation of food to the Victoria School Food Program and proceeds from the sale of 50/50 tickets at the town staff Christmas party went towards the purchase of winter gear for the Victoria School outdoor program.
There’s always a need for warm clothing because children often go to school unprepared for the Canadian winters, he said.
