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A small community northeast of Prince Albert is reeling after losing the building that houses their skating and curling rinks and community hall.
The recreation centre in Smeaton partially collapsed early Tuesday morning.
“Its a terrible blow for the community,” Mayor Lyle White told paNOW.
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“In these small towns you know a new building is in the millions of dollars and we just don’t have millions of dollars.”
According to White, the roof over the ice surface fell in and pushed out the walls of the hall.
The cause remains under investigation by the insurance adjuster.
White said the rafters are over 50 years old.
“In that environment of wet ground, wet moisture with the ice and stuff, there could be rotten rafters in there too,” he explained.
A view of the damage after a roof collapse in Smeaton. The building houses their hockey and curling rinks and community hall. This video was submitted to me. pic.twitter.com/1TmCHE8LQR
— Nigel Maxwell (@NigelMaxwell) March 31, 2026
The building collapse happened days after a number of big events were held, including a snowmobile rally, curling bonspiel and a kids skating wind-up event.
“It’s just a good thing no one was in the building when it happened,” said White.
Recreation board member Jamie Jensen described the loss as devastating.
“I think of my kids. That’s their second home,” she said.
“So much happens in that building. Where do you even begin to think about the loss it has to everybody. It’s sad.”
Jensen is hopeful the community can rebuild one day, but acknowledges there’s many other projects that have to be checked off the list first.
On the community’s social media page there’s been an outpouring of reaction.
“I spent countless hours on the ice there from playing pom pom pull away during public skating to landing my first axel,” Crystal Clarke wrote.
Not to mention every community event… dances, parties, celebrations, funerals. I probably learned to walk in the lobby. This past year was my first one as a hockey parent and every small-town barn I visited reminded me of ours.”
Smeaton is located about 80 kilometres northeast of Prince Albert.
— with files from CKOM News
A view of what remains of the recreation centre in Smeaton on March 31, 2026 after a section of roof collapsed. (Ryan Reid/Submitted)
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