NORRIS ARM -
Two years of perseverance and patience have paid off for the community of Norris Arm as last week work was well underway on the construction of a multipurpose court/rink.
The project has been spearheaded by the five members of the Norris Arm Recreation Committee. They have also been fortunate enough to have members of 91 Construction Engineering Flight (CEF) out of 9 Wing Gander take on this as a project to help the community as they put their skills to use.
Recreation committee chairperson Rhonda Payne said the CEF agreed to take on the project and all they asked for in return was to have meals provided while they work. Not a bad deal considering the project as is will cost in the neighbourhood of $30,000.
"If we didn't have the reservists here it probably would have cost around $100,000 and there's no way we could have come up with that kind of money and had the construction started," said Ms. Payne. "It took two years of fundraising, a $15,000 grant from the Provincial Government and a JCP (Job Creation Project) grant to arrive at this point."
Ms. Payne said the relief of having the project underway is enormous. When work started she said there were likely tears of joy shed by the committee members.
Within the next few weeks the project is expected to be completed and the surface will be able to be used for basketball, ball hockey and other sports. It will be used as a skating rink in the winter. They can see the possibilities for use of the new court/rink by the community, the school and the Norris Arm Boys and Girls Club.
The area where the multipurpose court/rink is being constructed is next door to the Norris Arm Boys and Girls Club.
"Right now there is nothing for young people in this community other than the Boys and Girls Club," said Ms. Payne. "This court will work perfectly here because the kids will be here anyway and then the building is here with washrooms, a place to warm up and get some hot chocolate."
Recreation Committee secretary Christina Lyver noted in addition to their thanks to CEF, they also extend appreciation to the Boys and Girls Club and the volunteers there in providing the building for preparing the food for the CEF members and the support they have provided throughout the whole process of getting to this point. She also noted that the success of this initiative also came from the support of the community through the fundraising efforts of the committee and providing food for the CEF.
Mr. Payne and Ms. Lyver also stressed the great working relationship the Recreation Committee has had, not just on this project, but for anything they attempt together for the betterment of the community.
"There may only be five of us but we're as good as 10 when we work together," said Ms. Payne.
That doesn't mean they wouldn't like to welcome new members, in fact the door is also open to anyone interested in contributing to the community be becoming a member of the Recreation Committee. They are always looking for people with new ideas and those who are willing to contribute their efforts to the projects of the Recreation Committee - the next being trying to secure a snowblower to use for clearing the rink surface.
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