“A piece of the heart” of Inverness County is getting a huge upgrade.
The province recently announced a $430,000 investment for the Dr. Bernie MacLean Cultural and Recreation Centre, for a brand-new steel roof.
Jill Copley, is a teacher as well as a commission member of the 50-year-old arena.
She says the roof is leaking and if it wasn’t for the new funding, they would not be able to continue to offer the services they do.
The arena, Copley says, is not only part of the heart of the community but a place where everyone can stay connected, with over 55 leagues- and she, herself, has quite a history with it.
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been… the arena has been a part of me, I learned how to skate there. I did figure skating. I played ringette. I played hockey. Now my kids play hockey.”
Kiddie fun day at the Dr. Bernie MacLean Cultural and Recreation Centre during the Inverness Gathering Week
Photo: Jill Copley
Copley tells us, when they found out they were getting the money, she got emotional.
“There were some tears when we discovered that we received that much of a commitment from the government. I don’t recall that the arena had ever received such a big investment.”
Telling the community
Letting Inverness residents know about the funding was an “amazing feeling”, Copley says.
It happened to be at the beginning of Inverness Gathering Week– an annual tradition in the town for close to 50 years.
Copley tells us Finance Minister and MLA Allan MacMaster was on hand to make the announcement during a steak dinner at the arena, for everyone who plays golf.
“The response from the crowd, was pretty incredible. Then when we go up to take the picture with Mr. MacMaster…the applause you know, it gave you goosebumps…it was a pretty emotional feeling.”
Photo: MLA Allan MacMaster making the funding announcement for the Dr. Bernie MacLean Cultural and Recreation Centre
Photo: Dr. Bernie MacLean Culture and Rec Centre/Facebook
Copley adds their goal was to replace half of the roof this year, but now they can do the whole thing.
Looking into the future
Fundraising is constant for the arena, with future goals in mind.
After the roof, next up, is the warm room.
Copley says they had raised $50,000 over a year and a half for that project which will include heat pumps, flooring and tv’s.
Now with the new funding, whatever is left from the roof, can help.
Other projects for the arena include renovating the washrooms and either adding more dressing rooms or renovating the ones they have.
Copley says the money was absolutely vital for the arena.
“It’s such a monumental cost, we just didn’t know… how would we ever fundraise enough money to proceed? So, this investment was like a lifeline.”
Construction is expected to start, anytime.
