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Hockeyville 2020 Entries Now Accepted

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Communities Build Hockey and Hockey Builds Communities.

That’s the main theme behind Kraft Hockeyville 2020.

Matt Bruce is the Senior Brand Manager for Kraft Heinz and he says nominations for the annual title and a chance to win $250,000 in arena upgrades are now being accepted.

Bruce says all you have to do is answer three simple questions.

“Depict your communities spirit and passion for hockey. Importance of your arena and how the prize money will be used. Why should your community be Kraft Hockeyville”.

Bruce says “Upload a photo, a video, a supportive message or share your communities story on Twitter and those all add up to points that can also help your communities chance of being named Kraft Hockeyville 2020.”

The winner will also host an NHL Exhibition Hockey game.

The deadline to enter a submission is February 9th.

To take part and for more information visit https://www.krafthockeyville.ca/#/landing

To learn more visit the Audio link below.

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DREAM Committee Looking To Grow

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The Dryden Recreation Extension and Modification Committee is looking to grow.

The group has worked tirelessly to raise around $525,000 for arena upgrades.

Co-Chair Marnie Oliphant says they are always looking for volunteers to join their team.

She notes three new people have joined in recent weeks.

Fundraising will be on-going as DREAM looks to reach it’s ultimate goal of expanding the arena.

Oliphant says additional information can be found on their Facebook page and donations can be dropped off at City Hall.

Tax receipts will be issued for any donation.

Marnie Oliphant made the comments during a recent open house and announcement regarding a $100,000 donation from former resident Larry Kurz.

You can hear more by listening to the Northwest Monitor piece below.

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Big Donation Lifts Dryden DREAM To The Top

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A huge $200,000 donation from former Dryden resident Larry Kurz has pushed fundraising for the Dryden Recreation Extension and Modification committee over its first goal of $500,000.

Kurz is a long time Dryden resident and business owner and now resides in Alberta.

A number of dignitaries, City officials, kids, DREAM members and others converged on the Memorial Arena yesterday (Sunday, December 1st) for an Open House, free skate as well as the major announcement.

Family member Sarah talked about the donation.

“My grandpa wanted to make sure I said thank you to the DREAM Committee for their hard work and dedication and what they do for this arena and the community.”

She adds Larry is just happy to give back to the community.

Kenora MP Eric Melillo was also on hand.

“I am really excited to be able to be part of this announcement today. Recognizing the generosity and the hard work of the community and really just the passion I think the people of Dryden have and this is a very important step towards realizing this goal. I’m looking forward to working with them to advance as many of these projects forward across the region.”

Melillo adds he’s had great conversations with community leaders to help secure additional funding for the advancement of the project.

DREAM Co-Chair Marnie Oliphant stressed “This is an amazing day. It brought tears to our eyes. The arena is so important to our community. When we first had our goal of $25,000, we thought ‘how are we ever going to get to the top?’ And in three short years, we’re there, thanks to the community and our businesses. It’s been Dryden, all of it!”

The fundraising total now stands at $525,000 the committee will wait to hear from funding applications before deciding what the next project will be for renovating the Memorial Arena.

Oliphant says they remain positive that their applications will be successful and they can move forward with a major expansion of the arena.

Other planned work includes a new walking track, new flooring at Arena #1 and the installation of additional automatic doors.

Community members can make a donation to DREAM by visiting City Hall and you are eligible for a tax receipt.

If you are interested in volunteering, you can contact committee members on the DREAM Facebook page.

Below is a copy of the letter sent to DREAM by Larry Kurz.

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DREAM Now Looking At Arena Expansion

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The Dryden Recreation Extension and Modification Committee is shifting its focus on expansion efforts to accommodate more dressing rooms.

The group has already made significant investments to improve the Memorial Arena.

Marnie Oliphant says dressing room space is the most common complaint and concern among users.

Oliphant says although the upstairs dressing rooms (#7 and #8) have helped them get by for the past 30 years, they are beyond due for proper rooms.

“They are under-sized, under-compliant for accessibility standards and they do not meet today’s or even yesterday’s building codes. A 12×10 space with poor ventilation is no long satisfactory.”

Oliphant adds “The fact that the room has a ceiling height of five feet on one side, with water and gas lines running through the room, only adds to the concerns and hazards associated with this space.”

She says players and parents are forced to navigate a steep and narrow staircase designed for one person at one time.

Oliphant notes anyone with a physical disability is unable to go up the stairs to access the dressing rooms.

If you can make it to the rooms, Oliphant says once they arrive, the parents and kids have to cram inside in order to dress and undress.

The volunteer group was orginally established to address the shortage of dressing rooms at the Dryden Memorial Arena.

 

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DREAM Continues Arena Upgrades

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Thanks to some modifications and some hard work, Girls Hockey has a part-time fix to its dressing room shortage problem.

The Dryden Recreation Extension and Modification Committee has been able to transform a pre-existing storage area to a usable dressing room with proper washroom facilities and a shower.

DREAM invested $12,000 in the project.

Marnie Oliphant says they have been hard at work to upgrade the Memorial Arena.

Oliphant says it was a busy summer with new flooring and ceiling tiles in the lobby.

New electronic dressing room schedules have been purchased and will soon be installed.

Oliphant hopes the monitor will be able to generate some advertising revenue for DREAM.

A new Water Bottle Fill Station and Fountain has also been installed.

Oliphant says the City of Dryden absorbed the costs to put the machine in, stressing they appreciate all of the help they are receiving.

Fundraising for DREAM has exceeded the $250,000 mark and the campaign remains on-going.

Oliphant says they are thankful for the support from the entire community.