Medstead given last chance by donor to raise funds for curling rink repair

The community of Medstead recently finished second in a contest that would have brought in $20,000 to help repair the local curling rink.

But a local company has given the village one more opportunity to pull together some last-minute money to get the rink fixed and ensure the curling season can happen. Simplot Grower Solutions said it will match donations up to $5,000 over the course of the next two days to help Medstead reach its fundraising goal.

In 2022, the curling rink’s ice plant failed and was in need of replacement. The community initially attempted to fix the existing ice plant, but was quoted a repair cost of $60,000, while a new ice plant would cost $40,000.

The village pinned its hopes on Winfield United’s “Raise the Barn” contest, but finished second to a Manitoba community by just three per cent of the vote.

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Volunteer Jacqueline Drieschner said the community isn’t too far away from its fundraising goal.

“If we get a total of $10,000, that will be enough to cover the rest of our supply costs,” Drieschner explained.

“There’s a little bit more (money) that we’d need to cover labour, but the community has really rallied in the last couple of weeks and we’ve seen a lot of volunteers.”

She said donations can be made through the Medstead recreation Facebook page.

Drieschner said getting the rink back up and running and ensuring there’s a season this year is very important to the community.

“Medstead was the first curling rink I threw my first rock in. I grew up in a neighbouring community, and we didn’t have a curling rink,” Drieschner explained.

Drieschner said she learned how to curl at the rink in Medstead, and made many memories there. (Jacqueline Drieschner/Submitted)

“I’d go to Medstead and I’d curl with my mom, my sister and my grandma. Getting the rink back up and running potentially means my daughter is going to be our fourth generation to curl in Medstead.”

She said curling is a very inexpensive sport to join, and the local school would benefit from an operating rink as well.

“Our school is going to start using the curling rink again for their gym classes, so their school team doesn’t have to travel to the next community to do practices,” Drieschner said.

Drieschner said she hopes donations can help get Medstead to its goal, and thanked everyone across the province who’s helped out and shared the story.

Medstead is about 215 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.