Skaters are back on the ice outdoor ice-rink in Highridge after volunteers had to repair the damage done by vandals.
Sometime between Dec. 27 and 28, a vandal(s) decided to chop through the ice in random areas causing the rink to be unuseable.
"We are still trying to figure out what happened, looking at camera footage to see if we can figure out who did it," said Highridge and District president Brice Quast.
Luckily, the damage was relatively minor and was relegated to the ice or the plastic lining underneath.
The plastic lining not only holds the water in place until the water freezes but helps it the ice to maintain its consistency under milder conditions. Although they will have to cut out some of the plastic that has been damaged, due to the recent cold weather with temperatures consistently below zero the rink was back in operation in short order.
Which is a good thing because the rink has proven very popular with area residents.
"There are several ag society members and families who live near the rink and use it all the time," he said, adding part of its popularity is its size. "It's huge. I'm not sure how big it is, but it is considerably larger than most community outdoor rinks with boards."
The added size is especially appreciated now, Quast said, given the provincial restrictions on outdoor winter recreation activities.
Although social gatherings are restricted, certain winter recreation activities such as skiing facilities and outdoor skating rinks have been allowed to remain open as long as physical distancing requirements are observed between households. It should be noted activities such as shinny are prohibited because physical distancing cannot be maintained.
The ag society is doing its best to comply with the public health order but in the end, he said it is up to the users.
"And people have been really good," Quast said.
Unfortunately, he said the pandemic has put a major crimp in the society's operations. In July, the society hosts a rodeo and on New Year's a community dance followed by fireworks, all of which have been cancelled.
"The fireworks is especially a good draw, attracting people from both Westlock and Barrhead," he said.
However, Quast said the society is doing its best to use the downtime caused by the pandemic to do some much-needed improvements.
"We have repainted the inside of the hall and we will be making other improvements as time goes on," he said, adding the improvements are part of a bigger plan to bring to the hall and ag grounds to their former glory.
As part of the improvements, two years ago the society installed a STARS Air Ambulance approved helipad.
"We are trying to build the Ag Society back up and get our facilities being used like they were in the past. The hall and rec grounds, although still busy, used to be a really jumping place and hopefully next year we will be ready to go, " Quast said, noting the board are in the process of planning several events.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
