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Ryan Neumeier, the mayor of Dodsland, said he’s floored by the fundraising response from within and outside the community to help rebuild the local sports centre after a fire in July.
In December, the village started fundraising to replace the Dodsland Sports Centre, which was damaged extensively in a fire on July 18. The village received $3 million from insurance, and the community has raised $8 million on top of that.
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“We’re sitting at $11 million now. We’re looking to get to $12 million before shovels hit the ground,” Neumeier said in an interview with 650 CKOM, adding that he’s “pretty confident” the community will reach that goal.
Neumeier, who also the chair of the fundraising campaign, had vowed to rebuild the popular arena after the fire.
The community had just installed new boards at the arena the year before the fire, at a cost of roughly $200,000.
The village has 215 residents, according to the last census, the mayor said, but he noted the greater area around the village is home to around 400 people.
The community is still open to receiving donations from those who wish to contribute, noted Neumeier. He said there is a GoFundMe web page set up for smaller donations, but those wishing to make larger donations can do so through the village office.
Some local businesses are also pitching in, the mayor added.
“We got a couple clothing stores in the area helping us out with some merch sales, too, and 100 per cent of those merch sales will go to us. So we got a few things on the burner right now,” Neumeier said.
Even other communities also helped out, including Kindersley, where the West Central Events Centre is an entrant in this year’s Hockeyville competition. If Kindersley wins, the town plans to donate the the prize money and any proceeds from the hockey game it would host to help rebuild the Dodsland Sports Centre.
Neumeier said he was shocked – even speechless – by the fundraising he’s seen so far.
“It really shows how important this building is to our community and surrounding communities,” he said.
The hockey arena is the heart of the community, Neumeier explained.
“That’s the place where people just come together in the wintertime to hang out and meet other people and see see each other,” the mayor said.
“It’s important for us to keep our kids in sport throughout the wintertime, and it’s also just important to have that that gathering place for our communities. (It’s) more than a rink, for sure.”
Plans for the new rink are still in the early stages, but the mayor noted there will be some more communal spaces added to the rebuilt facility.
“We are looking to hit shovels in the ground this fall and looking for a puck drop in November, 2027,” said Neumeier.
–with files from 650 CKOM’s Craig Silliphant and 980 CJME’s Jacob Bamhour
