An artist’s rendition of McLennan new multi-use recreational facility.

Tickets for the McLennan Curling Club’s first annual Christmas fundraising banquet next month are proving to be hard to come by. So hard in fact that not one of the 180 tickets is available for the Dec. 6th evening event taking place at the Elks Hall. “We’re completely sold out,” says a pleased McLennan Curling Club president Rita L’Heureux, adding that the response has been phenomenal. “It’s awesome to see the community and business sector getting behind this fundraiser by showing its support.” Seventy of the tickets were allocated to the Town of McLennan with the remaining 110 offered to businesses and residents in the community. The upcoming event will see all proceeds directed towards the construction of a new multi-use recreational facility (which includes a curling rink) next to H.W. Fish Arena. “We’ve set up this event as a perfect opportunity for businesses to recognize the efforts and contributions of their staff during the holiday season while supporting construction of a new multi-purpose recreational facility,” L’Heureux explains. “It’s definitely a worthwhile community initiative, one which is needed and warranted within the community.” The upcoming fundraiser consists of a supper (prepared by members of the curling club) in addition to entertainment in the form of a comedian from Yuk-Yuk’s. There will also be a cash bar and dance featuring music from a DJ in addition to the “Between a Rock & a New Place” pluck draw. The draw is a virtual carbon copy of Smoky River Ducks Unlimited’s Pluck a Duck draw where residents pick coloured pegs for a chance at winning several unique prizes purchased by the curling club. “The pegs include chances at free tickets for the prize draws and range from $1 to $5 each,” L’Heureux says. Plans for the construction of a new curling rink/multi-purpose facility in McLennan took a positive step forward last month following formal approval from the municipality as a major funding partner. The proposed facility will include three sheets of ice in addition to a viewing area, elevator access to the second floor for individuals with disabilities and a concession booth on the main floor. The curling is hoping to access provincial grant funding to the tune of $1.1 million or roughly 33 per cent of the estimated $3.3 million price tag. Those funds are expected to be complemented by corporate sponsorship and local contributions ($200,000 each) as well as labour and equipment donations of $25,000 each and $215,000 (the estimated value of an ice plant which was sold to the municipality for $1 courtesy of the Town of High Prairie). Additional funds under the business plan will be achieved from the Town of McLennan in the form of 12 per cent of the overall cost or $403,000 (to date, the municipality has spent approximately $100,000 on surveying, geotechnical work and engineering design costs) as well as the Municipal District of Smoky River 130 (11 per cent or $370,000) and the Peavine Metis Settlement, which is being asked to contribute 11 per cent. The curling club has three existing fundraisers in place to help offset its portion of the overall facility cost. They include continuation of the club’s cash bonspiel fundraiser in 2009 as well as the cash calendar promotion, which they hope to launch next February, and the community Christmas supper and dance. The curling club also hopes to utilize funds raised from an upcoming casino fundraiser taking place May 21-22 of 2009 in Grande Prairie. L’Heureux invites anyone in the community with a vested interest in the multi-use recreational facility project to drop by and offer their input during regular monthly meetings held at the Town Conference Centre in McLennan. “We’d love to hear from people in the community regarding their ideas for future fundraising strategies to assist us with this project,” she adds. The McLennan Curling Club’s next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 4 beginning at 7 p.m.