About
There is a lot of community pride in Hamiota concerning the completion of their new sports complex. The $2 million facility is the result of outstanding community support and determination. The sports complex is a combination skating arena/curling facility, complete with dressing rooms, viewing areas and a large kitchen.
The project obtained over $800,000 of local community support through fundraising and donations. Federal and provincial government grants added approximately $800,000. Volunteer labour contributed a value in excess of $300,000. As a result, the facility is completely operational with no debt.
The project began in 1984 when the existing facility required extensive upgrading. Local residents were given an estimate of $600,000 to upgrade the existing facility, which was built in 1934.The upgrading of the existing facility would only ensure another ten years of further use. As a result, the community rejected the upgrading of the existing facility in favor of a new sports complex.
The first fundraising effort netted the building committee $20,331.26. Combined with additional fundraising efforts as well as local community support, construction began in May 1989. Ian Bobiak supplied the building design and project management for phase 1. Gaiser Builders of Brandon completed the actual building and construction. The Building Committee made a conscious commitment to use local contractors wherever possible. Mostly volunteers under the supervision and assistance of a local journeyman electrician installed the plumbing and heating systems. Building supplies for the interior was supplied through the local Hamiota Building Supply, while Prairie Concrete of Hamiota supplied the concrete. The ice making equipment was supplied and installed by Goodman’s Industrial Maintenance of Brandon. The interior carpentry and block work was all done by local contractors and locally hired workers.
Volunteer labour has been valued at approximately $300,000 for the project. Volunteers were responsible for all painting in the building, installation of all arena lights, building the front entrance berm, misc. carpentry, project management of all but the first phase of the project, preparations for the surface, pouring and finishing the perimeter slab, final leveling with sand for the ice surface, installing 3″ Styrofoam SM, rebar and ice chairs, artificial ice pipes and wire mesh, and construction of viewing areas as well as bleachers.
The Hamiota & District Sports Complex is located adjacent to the Hamiota Municipal Park. The park contains six ball diamonds, a soccer field, campground, museum, agricultural grounds, beach volleyball, equestrian arena and an outdoor swimming pool. The location of the facility ensures that is used as a year round facility for a variety of events. In fact, the first major use of the facility was in June of 1991 when the community hosted the provincial MSOS Senior Games. Over 1,086 participants took part in the provincial event.