On Sunday Sept. 10, the decrepit plywood boards on Bouchie Lake’s ice rink were torn down by community volunteers.
The rink was dismantled and will be rebuilt this fall, thanks to funding from the Bouchie Lake Recreation Commission, the Cariboo Regional District, and grant money from the Northern Development Initiative Trust.
Puck boards from the demolished Quesnel Arena were salvaged for the Bouchie Lake rink refurbishment.
“The boards will be protected and last longer than the originals, and it’ll have a spruced up look, with all the colours on the boards,” said Bouchie Lake Recreation Commission’s facilities manager Angela Mezzatesta.
The construction project was awarded to Ketchum Enterprises, and Mezzatesta said she is waiting to hear back on an exact start date. The project is planned to be completed before winter.
Access to the rink will still be free, she said, but there will be a box for donations to help with upkeep.
“This is one of three projects we got funding for,” Mezzatesta continued.
“We are also replacing the concession at the riding arena, and replacing an air handling unit on the rooftop of Bouchie Lake Hall.”
Mezzatesta said a total of $43,000 had been put towards the projects.
