The Horse Palace has a new name. Walkerton’s second ice pad is now called the Power Workers Union Centre.
Along with a new name, the second ice pad also has a new lease on life.
A 170 thousand dollar refurbishment project is now complete, extending the life of the facility by another 15 to 20 years.
The project involved installing a new compressor, new refrigeration lines, change room wall upgrades and new benches for the change room.
With the work now complete, a grand re-opening and re-naming celebration was held on Family Day.
The Power Workers Union Centre purchased naming rights of the facility with a 15 thousand dollar donation, 5 thousand more than what was required.
A 60 thousand dollar Ontario Trillium grant, a 29 thousand dollar Brockton Nuclear Waste Management Community Wellbeing Fund grant as well as the generosity of local businesses and community groups such as the Kinsmen, Rotary and Optimist Club all helped make this project a reality.
Walkerton’s second ice pad was in desperate need of the upgrades, as it had been suffering from major breakdowns over the last two years due to aging equipment.
Fundraising Chair Greg Bester is thrilled with the results, saying the ice has never been better.
He adds none of this would have been possible with out the generosity of the community and the hard work of the numerous volunteers.
Of the 170 thousand dollars needed to finance the project, there is only 25 thousand dollars left to raise, a goal Bester expects will be met soon. ( a municipal loan allowed the project to proceed before all dollars were
raised.)
This second ice pad provides the public, particularly youth with an additional ice pad to practice on, when the Walkerton Arena is booked.
The temporary ice pad is run by volunteers and is open from November to March.
It is used by the Walkerton Minor Hockey Association and other community groups, serving more than 800 skaters a year during prime hours when the Walkerton Community Centre is at full capacity.
MPP @LisaThompsonMPP, @MayorPeabody and Twice The Ice Walkerton Ice Pad Fundraising Committee promoted the Grand Opening of th Power Worker's Union Centre which received a capital grant from Ontario Trillium Foundation. Press Release on our website https://t.co/1DmAT28io2 pic.twitter.com/IEysYQgeAB
— Brockton (@Mun_Brockton) February 18, 2019
