Funding for Winnipeg community centre to improve outdoor rinks

The new ice-making equipment for Windsor Community Centre. (Source: Alexandra Holyk/CTV News)

The City of Winnipeg announced funding on Saturday to help resurface ice at two outdoor rinks at a local community centre.

Coun. Brian Mayes made the announcement at a weekend news conference, saying that the city will provide $31,000 from the St. Vital ward’s communities fund for a new tractor with a bucket and snow pusher for the Windsor Community Centre.

The total cost of the ice-making equipment is $66,000. The community centre raised the remainder of the money.

"In 2019 we announced $80,000 towards the north rink boards and in 2022 I was here with Mayor Bowman to announce $100,000 for the south rink boards. But we need ice to use these rinks," Mayes said in a news release.

"It’s great to be here again to work with the community centre."

The outdoor rinks at the Windsor Community Centre are used for hockey and family skating.

At the news conference, Mayes said it took several months for the funding to get approved, with the project intially breaking ground earlier this year.

With the new equipment, Windsor Community Centre board members said the next step is to upgrade the garage that will house the machine.

"That's our long term hope for that. Whether or not that happens, we'll be looking for grants for that as well," said board president Adria Mielke.