LAKELAND - Approximately $518,000 will be coming to the Lakeland in the form of Community Facility Enhancement Program grants from the province in 2025.
The grants were all approved through the CFEP small stream, which has a maximum grant amount of $125,000. Organizations receiving funds contribute a matching amount and must complete their project within 18 months once the grant is approved.
The Smoky Lake Agricultural Society is receiving the full $125,000 to help pay for a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for their hall.
According to the society’s president Sharon Boychuk, the HVAC system is original to the building, which is over 50 years old.
“I know we had some stuff fixed, but it was different people coming and different mechanical companies coming and trying to add stuff on to it and so forth. So, it's just outlived its lifespan,” said Boychuk.
She noted the quotes they received for the work will put the final price tag closer to $400,000 with the Agricultural Society on the hook for $275,000.
“We thought it was about $300,000 as a rough idea, and then when they got the mechanical companies to come out, the quotes came in higher, but by that point, our grant was already in. So, getting the $125,000 towards it was better than waiting and trying to apply under another stream,” said Boychuk.
Glen Avon School in St. Paul will be replacing their gymnasium score clock and sound system, and adding two courtesy screens with their $87,737 CFEP grant.
According to interim principal Ryan Pashko, the new equipment "will allow for our Christmas concerts are our public events to sound great in the gym space." The screens will also make it easier to see what is happening when they are hosting things like basketball and volleyball tournaments.
Pashko said credit for the matching funds goes to the Playground Enhancement Committee. "They they worked extremely hard to hold several fundraisers over the last number of years, which were very, very successful and helped us get to where we are today."
According to Pashko, they are now working towards getting the RFPs ready so contractors can bid on the project, but they hope to have the new equipment installed in time for the 2025/26 school year.
The Royal Canadian Legion in Ashmont received $25,260 for upgrades to their hall.
According to president Cleve Murray, the upgrades include improvements to the electrical system, new lighting, an Automated External Defibrilator (AED), burn kit, and upgrades to the wheelchair and handicap access.
“The County [of St. Paul] put in about $6,000 worth of asphalt around the hall for our wheelchair access. So they've helped us out there,” said Murray. “We’re very thankful for their support.”
The Legion’s half of the funding came from money they had fundraised and put aside over the years.
According to Murray they’ve already done quite a bit of the work, but he expects the full project will be completed by August.
In Two Hills, the Senior Citizens Centre will be using its $3,449 CFEP grant to replace appliances. According to Two Hills Senior Citizens Centre president Stan Gordeyko, their cooler, washer, dryer, and vacuuming systems are all at their end of life and old enough they can no longer get parts to repair them.
“The Seniors Centre is a big social hub for all the seniors in the area. It’s a big social environment so we need all this stuff to keep ourselves going,” said Gordeyko.
The centre hosts floor curling every Tuesday and Thursday and card games every Friday night as well as bingos and perogy dinners throughout the year.
Other projects approved for CFEP funding in the Lakeland region include:
- $14,673 to replace the flooring at the Cold Lake Public Library South Branch
- $115,419 for the construction of a multi-use arena in Clandonald
- $9,497 for upgrades to the Clandonald Community Hall
- $12,077 for upgrades to the Ferguson Flats Community Hall near Lindbergh
- $125,000 for the construction of a facility for the Lea Park Rodeo Association near Marwayne
- $3,449 to replace appliances at the Two Hills Senior Citizens Centre
