While the cause of the arena roof collapse at the Millarville racetrack last month is still undetermined, it’s been decided the 33-year-old building must come down.
The decision to demolish the building was made by the Millarville Racing and Agriculture Society last week when it was determined too much damage occurred to the walls when the roof collapsed on March 19, said society president Brent Foster.
Foster said a committee was struck to make decisions on the rebuild and will meet for the first time this week.
“I’m hoping to hear from the adjustor and the appraiser next week so we know how much insurance we will get and what the replacement is, what it’s going to look like,” he said. “Now we have the opportunity to make the building better and more user-friendly. It all comes down to dollars and cents.”
In the meantime, the society has reached out to various companies to look into the possibility of having a temporary structure in place until a new one can be built. The society is working with its user groups to help them find facility solutions for the remainder of the season.
“We’re reaching out to our user groups and transitioning them to other facilities,” he said. “As it gets nicer, they won’t need a building as much.”
The Millarville Musical Ride, which has been using the arena since it was established in 1998, is struggling to find a new location for its 14 riders to rehearse weekly, according to coach Donna Buckland.
The riders hail from across the Foothills, including Red Deer Lake, Priddis, Bragg Creek, Okotoks and High River, as well as Calgary.
Buckland said she had to cancel one practice so far and on April 8 the riders are scheduled to rehearse at the Okotoks Agricultural Society.
“People have stepped up to make time for us, but some of our members would have to travel too far, she said, adding she’s received offers from Longview and Okotoks. “Longview is a little bit too far. Okotoks, we’re considering that, but we go on sponsorship so we don’t have a lot of money to spend on arenas. We just had a fundraiser and were going to use the money for a new flagpole and gear, now we have to use it for an arena.”
Buckland said she is still searching for an arena to rehearse in until the middle of May.
“If anybody is willing to give us arena time, centralized, for free that would be the best,” she said. “That would help us a lot.”
In a typical spring, Buckland said the Millarville Musical Ride could practice outside at the Millarville racetrack, but with more snow in the forecast throughout the week she expects it won’t happen anytime soon.
The musical ride has seven practices remaining before it begins its performances in mid-May, Buckland said.
“I’m glad it happened this time of year rather than earlier,” she said. “We don’t have many practices left until we start our performances with the High River Little Britches Parade.”
Foster said there are about 10 different groups that used the riding arena annually and several more that rent it out for events.
Despite the temporary hurdle, Foster said a new facility may come at a good time.
He said the equine community expressed concerns in recent years that the building wasn’t tall enough for events like jumping and roping, and that there are other changes that would benefit user groups.
“We want to incorporate other things into the building as well like more storage,” he said. “We don’t know what that looks like, yet.”
During the past two years, the society spent $200,000-$300,000 on site improvements including mechanical upgrades on furnaces, hot water tanks a water treatment plant and upgrading to energy-efficient lighting in its buildings. The society paid for half of the costs and the remaining was covered by provincial and federal grants, Foster said.
With no existing debt, financing for a new riding arena is a viable option, he said.
“We would look to the community and sponsors to assist us with that and look into the possibility of grants, too,” he said.
Foster said the society has already heard from community members expressing a desire to assist with demolition.
“Bids are currently in for that and we’re hoping that comes this week,” he said. “The community is reaching out. Long-time supporters and area people were out visiting and scoping it out.”
As for when a new arena will be complete and ready for user groups, Foster said there are a lot of factors that will determine that, including how much money the society receives from insurance and what type of building will be constructed.
