Times Advocate, 1999-07-28, Page 19Wednesday. July 28. 1999
Exeter
19
Arena fundraising campaign launched
Above:The Stephen Township Arena Fund-raising
Committee officially launched its campaign on
Friday. In front, Huron Bruce MP Paul Steckle,
Stephen Twp. Reeve Harvey Ratz and Huron Bruce
MPP Helen Johns. In the back, Cathy Cronyn (arena
board member), Dan Elliott (Centralia/Huron Park
Lions), Kerri-Lynn Case (fund-raising coordinator),
Sheona Baker (Stephen Minor Hockey representa-
tive}, Rob Funston (arena rna nage ;-Frankt Funston=
(Centralia/Huron Park Lions), Drew Robertson
(arena board chairman), jim Dietrich (arena board
member), Cathy Pfaff (representative from Carlson
Wagonlit Ellison Travel) and Tracy Duenk (arena
board member). During the campaign kickoff the
Centralia/Huron Park -Lions and Carlson Wagonlit
EllisonTravel presented cheques to the fund-raising
committee.
At right The committee celebrated raising
$ 125,000 for the project by having Stephen Twp.
Reeve Harvey Ratz place the first puck on the
fund-raising sign.The sign was donated by jack
TOWNSHIP Glavin Sandblasting.
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PROPOSED ARENA EXPANSION
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By Katherine Harding
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
HURON PARK — The puck has dropped for the
Stephen Township Arena fund-raising campaign.
Last Friday the campaign was officially launched at
the arena with local politicians Huron Bruce MP Paul
Steckle, Huron Bruce MPP Helen Johns and Stephen
Twp. Reeve Harvey Ratz in attendance.
The goal of the project is to raise approximately
$500,000 for renovations to the 36 -year-old facility
that would include six new dressing rooms, a first aid
room, foyer, meeting rooms and a warm room suitable
for viewing.
The committee has already raised $125,000- and
hopes to complete the fund-raising campaign by next
April. Construction is planned to commence later that
spring.
Fund-raising coordinator Kerri-Lynn Case said the
committee plans to hold a special event each month to
raise money and to promote the campaign.
At the end of August an Old -Timers Co-ed Slo-Pitch
Baseball Tournament is being organized at the
Centralia and Credition ball parks. Other events being
planned include a volleyball tournament in October.
Case saidthe committee isalso planning a letter -
writing campaign to solicit funds. They plan to send
out letters to large corporations, local businesses in the
area and Stephen Township taxpayers.
An income tax receipt will be issued for every dona-
tion over $101 M an added bonus, each $100 donation
will automatically be entered in their grand prize draw
sponsored in part by Carlson Wagonlit Ellison Travel in
Exeter.
Stephen Twp. council has already passed a motion to
commit three dollars of public money for every. dollar
raised through donations.
While municipal funds have been pledged, the com-
mittee is still waiting to hear about provincial and fed-
eral funding.
Huron Bruce .MP Paul Steckle said federal funding
isn't available now although he's "looking into it."
"I've played a lot of hockey in this arena... I have a
connection to this building," he said. "I'm pursuing
every avenue there is but hopefully at the endof our
government's mandate there might be some -goodies to.
give away."
He explained, the federal government's millenniuni
funding program, which is now just vvrappihg up, has
put this type of funding at a standstill:
"There are no brick and mortar programs right now
but there might be infrastructure programs down the
road," he said.
Huron Bruce' PAPP Helen Johns is more optimistic
about securing provincial support for the campaign.
"I'm looking into it," she said. "There are a number
of endowment funds right now."
She said while capital dollars may not be available,
assistance may be- offered in the way of architect costs
for example.
"As creative as the community can be we'll do our
best... I'm committed to arenas and youth and what
these arenas can do for our youth," Johns said.
To contact the fund, -raising committee call lid-rats-
ing coordinator Kerri-Lynn Case at 234-6331 orarena
board chairman Drew Robertson at 234-6209.
Political fsceof. Huron MP Paul Steckle and Huron
Bruce MPP Helen Johns attended the arena's fund-
raising campaign launch last Frida)t