MOOSOMIN — When the application window for this year’s Community Rink Affordability Grant opens in January, there will be a much larger revenue source. Starting with the 2025-26 intake, the provincial government has committed to doubling program funding to $3.2 million, which increases the per-rink grant to $5,000.
Typically the Community Rink Affordability Grant is available in the fall, but with a provincial election on Oct. 28, the application period was pushed to January. This means that the Jan. 6 to Feb. 28 application window is actually for the 2024-25 year that normally would have happened back in October, and will be for funds of $2,500 per eligible ice surface (paid out in March) with the new doubled amount beginning in the 2025-26 intake, which will be back to the original application period in the fall of 2025.
“Every year they’ve offered it, we’ve been fortunate enough to get funding through it,” said Moosomin Recreation Director, Mike Schwean. “In Moosomin, we get funding for the skating rink and funding for the curling rink, but as far as what you use it for, it’s pretty liberal. It can be power, it can be materials, it’s pretty wide-ranging.”
In Rocanville, Recreation Director Andrea Logan says the grant’s flexibility helps their facility extensively.
“We do apply for the rink affordability grant for the Rocanville skating rink, and it basically helps with our operating costs,” she said. “Rinks are expensive to run so that grant is definitely beneficial.”
Administered through the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association, the annual grant is available to eligible communities, First Nations, schools and non-profits with an indoor ice surface, the goal being to offset operating costs on those facilities.
“These are important cultural hubs in our communities, providing a gathering place that encourages activity for many families and residents in Saskatchewan,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross said. “The government is proud to support this program, and we will continue to make this funding available to rinks throughout the province.”
The grant was first offered in 2012—an election promise from the previous year came to fruition. In the past four years, the SPRA has delivered funds to 380 organizations and more than 580 ice surfaces.
“Recreation spaces, like our rinks, are crucial to the health, well-being and vitality of communities both large and small across our province,” SPRA president Darcy McLeod said. “The continuation of the Community Rink Affordability Grant and a commitment to double the funding in 2025-26, is a promising step toward addressing rising operating costs and combatting the challenges of aging community infrastructure.”
Unlike some grants that are tedious in their application process, and sometimes limiting in the number of communities per intake and even project scope, the Community Rink Affordability Grant is far more accessible regardless of how large or small the centre may be.
“As a manager of a facility, it is really helpful that they allow a wide scope of things that you can use it for,” Schwean said. “I imagine certain communities would simply use it for helping with operating costs, some communities would use it for a smaller capital project, or some small project around the rink. In our field, money’s tight right now, and it can be difficult. When you get an opportunity like this, it allows you to take a project on that maybe you wouldn’t be able to. Maybe it’s just painting the bleachers, whatever it might be that you couldn’t do if it wasn’t for funding.”
Logan was excited to learn of the coming fund increase for the fall 2025 application period.
“We have aging facilities, too, so there are always things that need to be fixed or replaced, and $5,000 for some items is just a drop in the hat, but for others, it’s greatly appreciated,” she said.
Seeing the fund being doubled is an encouraging sign.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” Schwean said. “I think, as far as rec professionals go, it’s nice that the government recognizes the importance of the facilities, and I understand money’s tight for them too, but to help us out on a yearly basis, certainly it’s not just the money, the optics are important as well.”
