I have always said, in terms of municipal government spending, recreation is not an essential service and should not be put on the same level as adequate water and sewer services, hospitals and schools.
I said as much during our the debate of whether or not the community should build the new aquatic centre. Not that I was against building a new swimming pool, but it was important that proponents of the facility frame the argument correctly. The example I always like to give is if a disaster were to hit our community and destroyed a recreational facility, the water treatment plant, the hospital and one of or both of our schools, what would you replace first? I doubt very much that very many residents would pick the rec facility.
That being said, recreation, is an important part of having a healthy community and as such, it is no surprise that Rich Valley Agricultural Society’s Dec. 4 meeting about the state of community’s ice rink was filled with such emotion.
However, as is often the case emotion can get in the way of truly having a good and open dialogue.
And that is what it looked like was going to happen at this meeting. As you can read in our cover story the meeting got off to a tumultuous when an audience member suggested at the start of the meeting that Lac Ste. Anne County, represented at the meeting by three councillors, were not willing to help the society through their current crisis.
Which isn’t true.
In a letter to the ag society, administration on behalf of council stated that they were more than willing to work with them, but were not willing to commit financially at this time, saying more discussion and information was needed before they decided on a funding model that would work for all parties.
The letter also stated that the ag society needed to apply for a Community Facility Enhancement Program grant, and that county staff would provide any assistance needed.
Which is what the Lac Ste. Anne councillors reiterated during the meeting, albeit at what many people in attendance, thought was a terse or angry way.
I’m not sure I would agree with that, but if they did, it would be understandable as it is human nature to get your hackles up if you think you are being attacked.
Luckily for everyone involved, eventually people’s emotions settled and productive dialogue ensued.
I for one, am confident that a solution will be found and next year the Rich Valley Agriplex’s ice rink will be bustling with activity which is important because while a rec facility might not be essential for a community’s survival, it plays a big part in providing its soul.
