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Facelift in the works for aging CAP Arena

The hard work and dedication of the CAP Arena’s founders continues to pay off today, with The Co-operators recognizing and honouring those founding efforts with $40,000 to help with a facelift for the town’s second arena.
President of the CAP Arena Committee Ron Boisvert was happy to accept a $40,000 cheque from Sharmen and Shawn Saik, who own and operate Saik Insurance – The
President of the CAP Arena Committee Ron Boisvert was happy to accept a $40,000 cheque from Sharmen and Shawn Saik, who own and operate Saik Insurance – The Cooperators. The first $20,000 from The Cooperators’ Community Fund will be given up front, while the next $20,000 will be given over the next four years.

The hard work and dedication of the CAP Arena’s founders continues to pay off today, with The Co-operators recognizing and honouring those founding efforts with $40,000 to help with a facelift for the town’s second arena.

“It really goes back to 1983, when people had a vision,” said Shawn Saik, who, along with his wife Sharman?, presented a cheque to the CAP Commtitee president Ron Boisvert on behalf of Saik Insurance – The Cooperators last week. “They sacrificed personal assets, they put it on the line. I think that’s quite remarkable.”

Their drive and vision not only convinced The Co-operators to contribute $40,000 to the arena for upgrades out of its community fund, it also helped the CAP Arena become a top 10 finalist in the Kraft Hockeyville challenge, securing it $25,000 in prize money to go towards roof repairs.

However, as the Town of St. Paul has budgeted $140,000 for the rooftop repairs, the CAP Arena committee has turned its eyes to doing other upgrades and a facelift for the aging arena, according to its president Ron Boisvert.

“We’re in bad need of changing all the tin,” he told town council at its July 11 council meeting. In addition, he stated the committee would like to remove and replace the concrete from the front of the building, as the stairs and ramp are only a few feet from the main road, and people sometimes drive by at high speeds.

“There have been some close calls already,” he said.

He estimated repairs and landscaping would cost $60,000 to $80,000, but that the project could be re-tendered for a lower cost if the town would loan the use of its equipment.

“With your equipment, we can probably do it in half a day . . . a day at the very most.”

Mayor Glenn Andersen applauded the CAP Arena committee, saying, “I think they’ve done a tremendous amount on volunteerism.”

He and the rest of council agreed to provide the use of town equipment for the project, as well as provide dirt and/or clay for any of its landscaping needs.

The CAP Arena committee also made a second request for the town to waive the green fees for its fundraising golf tournament in Sept. 25. However, Coun. Don Padlesky expressed some reservations about setting a precedent on waiving green fees, and council deferred that request to a later date.

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