Landmark’s new arena replaces “Cable Stable”

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This article was published 06/10/2022 (935 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A project which has been a long-time dream of the small community of Landmark became a reality this week with the cutting of a ribbon to officially open a brand new arena.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Landmark Recreation Committee Chairman Lloyd Plett spoke of “a labour of determination,” referring to the plans for the facility dating back to 1984, when the current arena was condemned and declared unsafe.

Landmark LUD (local urban district) committee member Don Plett stressed that the arena was a community project and a monument to the hard work and commitment of Landmark residents.

Plett said the cost of the $1 million project was funded one-third by donations, one-third by government grants and one-third by municipal taxes and was quick to point out because of low interest rates, the $350,000 which was borrowed would be paid off in 15 years instead of 20.

RM of Tache Reeve William Danylchuk, who participated in the opening ceremonies, noted that even the skeptics were coming forward to enjoy the arena now, that the project has been completed.

Despite the opposition, Landmark supporters continued to press for a new arena facility, for the benefit of everyone in the community.

The opening of the Landmark Arena in 1972 and the brand new arena, which opened earlier this month, are just two examples of what can be accomplished when people believe just because a village is small, projects don’t have to be.

Facing the possibility the community would soon be without any arena at all, Landmark residents turned out in droves to a municipal board hearing in 1990, to speak in favor of a $350,000 municipal borrowing by-law, needed for the project to go ahead.

Undaunted by the 364 names on a petition opposing the spending of municipal tax dollars on an arena, the community rallied in support of the Landmark recreation committee, and when it came to the municipal hearing, 75 per cent of the presentations were in favour of the project.

The majority of the people at the hearing said they were willing to pay an increase in their taxes to see the arena built.

The feeling at the meeting was that the project should go ahead as soon as possible, in the event the existing arena can no longer be used.

Tache Councillor Walter Plett, of Landmark, agreed there was an urgency to proceed before the community found itself without a building.

The existing arena, built at a cost of $45,000, did not have artificial ice and was condemned as unsafe in 1984. At that time, $20,000 was spent to strengthen the structure and Landmark’s “Cable Stable” has been used ever since then. It was a happy day for the residents of Landmark, when it was demolished in August of 1992 and the rubble was hauled away. Finally that old arena was “out of sight, out of mind.”

Virtually all user groups at the 1990 hearing spoke in favour of the project, with many pointing out the terrible shape the current facility was in.

Sid Reimer of the Landmark Dutchmen of the Hanover Tache Hockey League told the hearing his team had to spend $3,500 a year renting ice at other arenas, because Landmark does not have artificial ice. Players being unable to shower at the rink and the lack of rooms for officials were cited as other major problems.

“Because of the horrible facility we are forced to play in, we have trouble recruiting players.”

The social aspect was stressed by many supporters as being a vitally important component of a community’s arena.

Lloyd Plett had every reason to be confident at the time that when the borrowing by-law went to a referendum, it would pass.

That happened in November of 1990, and the borrowing figure was trimmed by the cost of artificial ice, before it received approval. That didn’t present a major problem for the supporters of the project, who immediately began fundraising efforts to cover the costs.

Sod was turned in May of 1991, and 87-year-old Elizabeth Reimer cut the ribbon to officially open the brand new facility earlier this week. A long-time supporter of hockey in the community, Mrs. Reimer participated in the ceremony to show that the new arena was for everyone.

When the tiny community of Landmark launched its first arena project back in 1972, the village boasted somewhat less than 200 residents and a sign on the highway stated their optimism well, “Our Town is Small, Our Spirits Big.”

With a second arena project looming, it would appear though the sign is gone, the slogan may still holds true.