GLENDON – The Glendon Arena will be getting some much-needed upgrades after it was announced the facility was successful in obtaining a $1 million Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP-Large) grant, last month.
In February, the Glendon Agricultural Society was able to make the news official.
Ken Pshyk, president of the Glendon Agricultural Society board, explains that the header in the arena has been leaking and is desperate need of repair.
“Because that needed repair, it just made sense to update the whole ice surface, which included dasher boards and a few other areas needing upgrading,” Pshyk told Lakeland This Week.
The Glendon Arena was built in 1974.
According to Pshyk, the Village of Glendon stepped up and helped the agricultural society apply for the full CEFP grant. There were also many people working behind the scenes, he said, who made the grant possible.
This initiative is, “A true testament as to how working together can achieve great things,” said Pshyk.
The Glendon Arena, along with the adjacent hall, are very important to the community – and the surrounding area. The building provides a place for sporting events, weddings, funerals, and community events.
The arena is not only used by people in Glendon, but also by individuals and groups from a broader surrounding area that includes Bonnyville, St. Paul, and more.
In addition to the Glendon-based figure skating and hockey clubs, the arena is also used by Bonnyville Minor Hockey, the Lakeland Panthers, Lakeland Lightning, Kehewin Minor Hockey, and the St. Paul Canadiens.
The Glendon Arena has also played host to the Ronald McDonald House Winterland Invitational hockey tournament and will be the site of some of the events for the 2026 Alberta Winter Games, which are set to take place in February.
“It is so important to small communities to have places like this to continue to thrive,” said Pshyk.
When the funds were announced, Scott Cyr, MLA for Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul, said the funding will help revitalize the Glendon Arena. He also praised the Glendon Agricultural Society board and the village council for their work and commitment to securing the $1 million in funding.
“Their leadership and commitment to the community have made this project a reality, and their vision for the future of Glendon is truly inspiring. This project will be a game-changer for our community and the surrounding region,” said Cyr.
Speaking about the Winter Games, Cyr said, “The Winter Games will bring visitors, excitement, and economic opportunities to Glendon and the surrounding region, showcasing our community’s ability to host top-tier sporting competitions.”
According to information from the Government of Alberta, the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) Large makes financial assistance available to communities for the purposes of upgrading, expanding, purchasing or building community public-use facilities. This includes arts, cultural, heritage, recreational, and sport facilities.
