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Committee raising funds for Shawville arena renovations

Committee raising funds for Shawville arena renovations

2 May 2025 à 2:40 pm

Updated on 5 May 2025 à 11:16 am

There’s a new committee raising funds for the refurbishment of the Shawville arena. The building, which is a part of the Shawville Fairgrounds is owned by the Pontiac Agricultural Society, but operated by the municipality most of the year. The two organizations signed a new lease agreement earlier this year that stipulates that each will contribute $25,000 towards the aging infrastructure annually. This new citizens group will focus on further fundraising efforts.

Pontiac Arena Fund member Mike Rusenstrom explained that the committee was formed in January and is made up of people who use the facility, or have some connection to it via minor hockey or the local figure skating club for example. Rusenstrom grew up playing minor hockey there and said that the arena is an important institution for his family and the community at large.

As far as renovations go, the first order of business is to renovate two exterior walls and add some insulation, but Rusenstrom said that the larger project is to eventually replace the ice plant, which dates back to the 1960s.

The committee will be hosting several fundraisers in the coming weeks, starting with a Mothers Day craft sale on Saturday May 3, a men’s night on Friday May 9, and a performance by the RCMP Musical Ride on Sunday, June 1. For more information contact pontiacarenafund@gmail.com or visit their social media.

The full interview with Rusenstrom (8m40) is available here.