ELK POINT — Another round of provincial funding is heading to Elk Point’s A.G. Ross Arena, this time to help tackle a leaking roof and protect recent improvements to the community facility.

The Elk Point and District Agricultural Society has been approved for $50,000 through Alberta’s Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) Small Grant, adding to ongoing efforts to maintain and improve the arena.

This latest funding follows a $750,000 provincial investment announced in March 2025 through the Active Communities Initiative, which supported installing a new ice plant.

Together, the two grants represent $800,000 in provincial funding toward improvements at the arena.

With the new ice plant in place, attention is shifting to the roof, where leaks have created another maintenance challenge.

Protecting the investment already made

The new ice plant marked a significant improvement for the arena, helping support the ice surface used by local hockey players, skaters and community groups.

However, the Agricultural Society and its volunteers remain responsible for maintaining the rest of the building.

The $50,000 grant will help address needed repairs, including a leaking roof that could threaten the facility and improvements already completed if left unresolved.

Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr announced the latest funding and said the repairs are another important step toward preserving the arena.

“With the new ice plant in place, attention is now turning to another important challenge: keeping the water outside where it belongs,” Cyr said.

“Addressing the leaking roof will help protect the building and the improvements already made, ensuring the arena can continue serving local families.”

The funding does not mean every maintenance issue at the arena has been resolved. Additional work and long-term planning will still be needed as the facility continues to age.

Volunteers keeping the arena running

While provincial grants help fund major improvements, much of the day-to-day work behind the arena still falls to local volunteers and the people responsible for operating the facility.

Cyr recently met with A.G. Ross Arena Caretaker and Ice Maker Brian Poitras, Arena Committee Secretary Courtney Kelly and Treasurer Margaret Bayduza to discuss the facility and its ongoing needs.

He also recognized Arena Committee Chair Doug Bassett and the volunteers who help keep the arena operating.

“Behind every community arena are people who arrive early, stay late, and put in countless hours to keep the doors open, the ice ready, and the lights on,” Cyr said.

For Elk Point, the arena serves as more than a place to play hockey. It is a gathering space where children learn to skate, families spend their evenings, and generations of residents build memories.

The Agricultural Society and Arena Committee have continued working to identify repairs, secure funding and prioritize improvements while managing the costs of maintaining the facility.

Roof Repairs needed at the AG Ross Arena

Roof Repairs needed at the AG Ross Arena

More work ahead

The latest grant is another piece of a larger effort to keep the A.G. Ross Arena operating for years to come.

Cyr acknowledged that challenges remain and not every repair can be completed at once.

“There are still challenges ahead, and not everything can be fixed at once,” he said.

“The new ice plant was an important step, and this funding brings us another step closer.”

The $50,000 CFEP grant will help the Agricultural Society address its next priority while protecting the investment already made in the arena.

For the volunteers and families who rely on the facility, it is another step toward keeping the ice ready and the doors open for future generations.