“Sometimes people dismiss the value of something until it’s gone…This is a facility that has immense value”. These are the words of Kevin Popp, committee member of the MacNutt Community Center. “I look at this and feel I have to honour the legacy and contributions to this point.”
Popp’s words reflect his purpose being on the committee tasked with keeping the facility alive by getting it a roof upgrade.
The MacNutt Community Center was built in 1967, celebrating the Canadian Centennial. Over the past 53 years the center has served as a recreational and meeting facility for the members of the MacNutt community. The facility boasts a three sheet curling rink, full-size hockey arena, and a 4500 sq ft hall and reception room.
Kevin Popp knows the old story about how proud community buildings deteriorate when left unattended.
A former student of the K-12 MacNutt school, he used to spend his noon-hours running across the school-yard to the Community Center where he could strap on his skates and hit the ice to skate around until it was time to return for afternoon classes.
The K-12 school was once a proud community symbol that is deteriorating, now no-longer in service.
Kelly Fatteicher, president of the MacNutt Recreation Board, a player for the MacNutt Kings hockey program and one of the ice makers for the skating arena says “[you] Couldn’t live with yourself knowing you didn’t do anything to preserve the building”.
His sense of pride in the MacNutt Community Center helped him become the president of the committee that takes care of it (The MacNutt Community Center is managed by the MacNutt Recreation Board).
“In lots of cases this is the first place kids put on skates” says Fatteicher.
Often on Sundays, Kelly comes to open the community center doors for the public and finds many different groups come through and utilize the ice.
Whether it’s one young skater practicing late at night, as well as first thing the next morning, or a large group of young school kids playing hockey all afternoon, the rink is being used by youth and all community members alike.
MacNutt, Saskatchewan resident Judy Becker said “This is where everything happens, it’s the only place available for public meetings, events, dances”
Currently, the roof for the community center is leaking in some critical locations. Patching will only delay the inevitable…..the roof needs to be resurfaced. The building has a solid foundation, but as the leak increases the overall impact on the building gets worse.
Last year was difficult for the MacNutt Recreation Board, with monthly heating bills over a thousand dollars being handed to the facility. Bills of that magnitude make keeping the facility open difficult, but it is so meaningful to the community that it continues to stay open. The facility relies on constant fundraising but the support is there from the community and surrounding area.
The budget for the new roof is for $200 000. This amount covers the cost to replace the roof and will allow the community group for some contingencies that could arise as the project moves forward. The current amount required is based on quotes for materials and other costs involved. The group has and continues to apply for various grants that may be available. MLA Warren Kaeding worked with the group to give some direction on grants available for the project.
The Community Center was a need for MacNutt in 1964. The municipality’s hall was deteriorating, getting to the point where it was about to be unusable. There was an outdoor skating rink and a two-sheet curling rink that were built in the 1940s, but improvements were needed for both. Initially, the skating rink and curling arena were partnered together in the new facility. When the hall was later condemned, the new facility moved in to form the current community center. The current fundraising group gave credit the foresight of the original designers for building enough extra space in the lobby area so that the hall could later be moved there.
The members of the original building committee travelled community to community looking at different facilities. Judy Becker said “My dad had a brother at Eriksdale, Manitoba. He saw their facility and it was his dream to have a similar facility…He liked the incorporation of the curling rink/skating rink/kitchen facility area.”
A report from the committee meeting minutes for the development of the community center, provided by Judy Becker states, “November 10th, 1964. The Centennial grant program was discussed at length and it was decided to let the committee work out a program” she says, “That’s where it started. At the next meeting on December 8th, 1964, they already had an estimated cost of the materials for the rink” A report given by Andrew Antony estimated the cost to be around $21 000. A lengthy discussion followed…A Centennial Committee report was given by Delmar Markosky on the progress to date. A general public meeting was to be held to make everyone aware of what went on so far and what the future plans were.”
Leslie Popp, Andrew Antony. Wilbert Morrison, Delmar Markosky were the original committee members who worked with the Board of Trade and MacNutt Village Council on the project. Frank Becker was on the Board of Trade who worked with the committee and MacNutt Village Council on the project.
The Centennial grant did not cover a significant amount of the project; most donations came from community members. “There was a winter works project. Everyone who did the winter works project donated their money back to the rink,” remarked Frank Becker. He continued by adding “The donations at that time looked like individuals (single, unmarried) were requested to donate $75 while families were requested to donate $150.”
Judy remembered “I was earning less than $200 a month and gave $75”. To put it into perspective in 2019 values, $150 per family in 1965 would be $1205 today.
By Grand Opening in December 28, 1967 costs to build the facility had reached approximately $53,000 with fundraising efforts covering just under $29,000 of that expense. Community groups continued fundraising to cover these costs.
There was pride in fundraising for the project, seemingly everyone in the community was involved in fundraising or putting hammer-to-nail.
In 1965 & 1966 Community workers, a women’s group that no-longer exists, helped out by holding a fundraising project every month of the year.
Judy Becker reflected on a dance the community workers group hosted during the build; it raised a grand total of $13.
“We started selling cookbooks in 1966…inside the cover it reads ‘Let’s put our children on ice and keep them out of trouble”.
The group rented the equipment needed, typed the recipes, went to the MacNutt school and cranked the pages off. Next they had to put them on the desks, all 138 pages, before picking them up in order, and taking them into Yorkton to have them stapled and printed along with the covers. The cook book was later re-printed with some updated information.
Kevin Popp remembered the cookbook always being on his mother’s cupboard when he was a kid.
Judy stated the best fundraisers were the lunches sold at the sports days and fall suppers.
$437 dollars were raised at one fall supper which was a large amount. $578 was raised at one carnival celebration which would include Crowning of the Queen involving raffle ticket sales, lunches, admissions, fish pond, bingo, etc.
“We just did everything we could…To think that the community workers [group] gave $12 000 when they made $45, $30, $13, and $27 [at different dances] we did a heck of a lot of work to get to $12 000. Every month we had something, but we cannot do that now.”
The Board of Trade also contributed to the original build efforts with their main fundraiser, hosting the sports days every year. There are photos of their sports days where the grounds are full of cars and people.
One of the projects the Board of Trade undertook to raise funds was a turkey shoot where people shot at targets; a bullseye earned the shooter a turkey.
The current roof upgrade group is conscious about burning out their small group of volunteers. Their goal is to put on five different events. The first event coming up is the Kings hockey tournament January 16th-18th. The rec hockey group has always been a very supportive arm of the MacNutt community. At the tournament there will be a pie auction on Saturday, January 18th at 7pm. The renowned pie makers of the area will be approached for donations; but other donations are welcome as well. Charitable donation receipts are given out for donations. For the pie auction, the renowned pies will be put on sale by an auctioneer for all interested buyers. For those unable to attend the Pie Auction in person, the group is hoping to stream the event Facebook Live on the MacNutt Community Center Facebook page. Bidding and donations will be accepted through that medium.
A fundraising dance/social is planned for February 15th. A mixed bonspiel is planned for the week of February 17th.
A ladies night and a men’s night are on the agenda as well. The goal is to get people out to socialize while enjoying some entertainment.
Everyone is encouraged to come out to these events to support this fundraising initiative. The MacNutt Community Center Facebook page is used to keep area residents and those beyond up to date on facility events.
If anyone is interested in helping with the project, the group is looking to give a way to contribute to the community of MacNutt in ways other than joining a committee or board.
“It’s bad enough to see the school, the state it is at, because I remember going to school there and it’s proud history. We’ve learned our lesson from some facilities that we’ve just taken for granted figuring we could live without.” Kevin Popp continued, “The heart and soul put into this place will never be able to be measured. You don’t have that same sentiment anymore.”
This un-matched sentiment can be described by Judy Becker. She states “My dad was just passionate about this building [the community center]. He worked hours and hours. He hired somebody to work at his store so he could work there.”
Nowadays, Popp notes how those in small towns have “become accustomed to going elsewhere for our services.”
He’s right.
Municipalities are more connected now than ever which allows citizens opportunities that were not afforded before.
When parents travel to take their youth to another town for their activities, they give their time to that community volunteering to help the team in one form or another (donating time to the kitchen, helping with various fundraisers, etc.).
As we’re so involved with multiple communities outside of our community, that means we have less time available to give to our home location; there are only so many hours in a day to help and volunteer.
“[This is] my opportunity to give back to the community that’s given me so much,” Popp states, “I want to make sure this community doesn’t lose its identity. I don’t want to have that conversation about what could’ve been done.”
Although there may not be the 64-team bonspiel of old times held in the skating arena anymore, the value of the facility to MacNutt has not diminished one bit. As time goes on the facility becomes more and more iconic. Instead of becoming another proud building that’s fallen to the deterioration of time, the MacNutt community center has the people behind it to push it into the next generation. Like the group who built the original building, there will be a huge effort needed for the roof project. Like the situation with the original build, it will take a community working together to make the project a success. With a solid foundation under it and a proud community around it, the facility seeks to see another day. It is time for residents of MacNutt and the surrounding area to work together and inject life into the social heart of their community. With a new roof, the facility will be open for generations in the future; keeping its doors open and creating more memories for MacNutt’s community and surrounding area.
The “Acres for Cover” is a program allowing our agricultural food producers to contribute to the MacNutt Community Center Roof Project; the program allows producers to contribute using something they grow with their hard work and effort. The concept is simple for this program. Grow pledged acres(consider even 1%) and contribute funds from your production results.
The MacNutt Community Center Roof Fund appreciates any and all level of support. Private donations, business donations, civic support, grants received and volunteer efforts will all combine to allow the group to successfully raise funds required.
For contributions over $200, the donor will qualify for a 42% federal tax deduction.
Please make cheques payable to the Village of MacNutt to receive the charitable donation receipt. All funds will be managed through the MacNutt Community Center Roof Fund account by members of the MacNutt Recreation Board.
Need more information or have questions about the project?
Contact one of the MacNutt Community Center Roof Fundraising Committee Members.
Kevin Popp 306-742-7795
Kelly Fatteicher 306-742-7820
Kathy Furtney 306-229-7884
Sherry Popp 306-742-4624
Times Have Changed (Partial List of Income/Expenses for the Project in 1965)
MacNutt Community Center Contributions: $8,921 – Personal Donations, $12,000 – Community Workers, $2,500 – Board of Trade, $3,184 – Winter Works, $602.75 – Hockey & Hall Pools, $500 – Curling Club, $282 – Car Raffle, $105 – Rummage Sale
MacNutt Community Center Expenses: $13,509.18 – Lumber Material, $700 – Gravel, $1497.60 – Cement, $300 – Furnace, Land – $1,000