It is rare a council leads a round of applause for a delegation, but then again, the one on March 13 was not asking for anything.
The Mapleton Arena eXpansion (MAX) committee was bringing council up to date on its latest fundraising efforts.
Committee chairman Dale Franklin said the committee pledged $250,000 four years ago when council refurbished its aging PMD Arena.
“We’re 80% there,” said Franklin of $200,000 the committee has raised. She noted it can be difficult to raise funds successfully when “the bricks and mortar are there.”
The work is done; it is the final part of the pledge the committee wants to meet.
Franklin said it has three events in the next few months and looks forward to getting closer to the needed $50,000.
Public works director Larry Lynch said council might want an event to celebrate once the pledge is done. He wondered if burning the “thermometer” that marked the group’s progress would be a suitable celebration.
Franklin said to laughter the committee plans “a planning hiatus” once it reaches its goal. She then introduced members of the committee to a round of applause.
Coming events
Franklin said in an interview the first of three coming events is April 12 to 14; it is unique because it gives children a share in fundraising activities.
She said the annual ball hockey tournament is popular, and noted, “It’s hard to get fundraising that gets kids involved.”
The four-on-four tournament features a goalie and three players and runs for three days. Franklin said the event is for youngsters, but all ages can participate and she expects at least a couple of adult teams will take part.
The event runs Thursday to Saturday if there are enough teams, and the event has been packed in recent years. The fee is $10 per player and the committee makes about $2,000 on it.
Franklin said the tournament used to be operated by the Drayton Optimist Club before it folded. For a couple of years, it did not run, but Steve Culp helped bring it back for the MAX committee.
When asked if it would continue after the pledge is met, Franklin said it is popular, and “I sure hope so.”
She said Culp runs the tournament with a number of volunteers and the kids really enjoy it, particularly since it falls between the end of hockey season and the start of ball and soccer.
Registration forms and entry drop-off are available at the PMD arena.
On May 12, the committee is holding a dinner and Legends of Rock ’n’ Roll show at the arena.
The doors open at 6pm, dinner is at 6:30pm and entertainment starts at 8:30pm. The group is bringing in tribute acts from Good Rockin’ Tonight, of London. Franklin said the troupe has performed in places like Harriston and Fergus and is popular in the area. It will feature salutes to Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lewis and Buddy Holly.
Tickets for that event are $35 and are available now at Blooming Dale’s in Drayton.
The third event will be held in conjunction with July 1 celebrations and Franklin said details will be announced closer to that date.
The MAX committee consists of representatives from minor hockey, figure skating, senior hockey and the Moorefield Optimist and Drayton Kinsmen clubs.
The PMD Arena project cost $1.2 million total, with government grants covering about $500,000 of that.
