Hebert speaks on Community Foundation at Chamber meeting
May 25, 2026, 9:34 am
Ashley Bochek Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The new rink will begin construction this summer on Park Avenue along the old Number 1 Highway. The Pipestone Legacy Community Foundation is set to launch this June. Its first project is to fundraise for a new rink.
Kristjan Hebert of Hebert Grain Ventures and the Community Builders Alliance (CBA) announced the launch of the community foundation and the operations of it at the Chamber of Commerce meeting last Tuesday.
Hebert says the new rink is the foundation’s first project in supporting.
“The first project is going to be a new rink. There is a group of entrepreneurs that is going to help get the money going for the rink, and if we have to take a loan out on the rink to fund our portion, that’s what we’ll do, just to manage both the new rink and the new foundation at the same time.”
He says the committee hopes the new rink will be open in early 2028.
“Another unique part, is when you build some assets within a foundation, even though you have to follow all the same code as municipal governments do, you can move faster, so construction is going to start this summer. We hope to have it completed by the end of 2027 and kids skating on the ice in 2028 and that will be the first project for the foundation.”
First project of many
Hebert explains the new rink is the first project of many through the community foundation.
“We’d really like to have the community focus on the foundation, and it’s a gift that keeps on giving, and what’s the next project, and the next project. The rink is just the first one, and it’s an exciting one because we have so many kids in our winter sports programs.
“We also hope that it comes to people leaving 10 per cent of their estate to the foundation. I know my grandma would have done that in a minute, if we’d had this, she and Skuli would have left 10 per cent of their estate to this foundation, they would have done it for their kids and for my kids, and the 10 generations of kids after that. So that’s the real goal—how do we create something that is so unique that when you pass away, you want to invest in your community, and this is how you do it.”
Rec Director Mike Schwean
Mike Schwean, the Town of Moosomin Director of Recreation, says the new rink will provide greater opportunities for winter and summer activities in Moosomin.
“We estimated the old rink brings about $3.5 million of new spending dollars to the town every year, so it itself is a big economic boost to the community.
“The problem is we have 10 minor hockey teams that are having to go out of town for practices. We have our Junior B team having to go out of town for practices. We had to cut some tournaments because we didn’t have enough ice to accommodate the teams.
“So, with the second rink, there’s a ton more things we could do and offer. I would assume that economic return to the town with the second rink would turn into $7.5 million, annually.”
“So it’s a win not just for the town, but the residents, the business owners, and so forth.”
Schwean says many recreational facilities are at capacity and he sees the second rink an outlet to help.
“Because of the growth in the community, we find ourselves maxxed out on all recreational activities.
“We’re trying to squeeze two more soccer fields into Bradley Park, that and the swimming pool—all of our facilities are maxxed out.
“For our department, it’s going to make it a lot easier to not only accommodate the teams throughout the winter, but the new facility obviously is going to have a lot more technology and will be more energy efficient, so we can put the ice in a little bit earlier, we can offer different programs at the tail-end of the season, and also it allows us to do some things in summer that we haven’t been able to do at our existing rink, so I think the opportunities this new rink will bring for the town, and obviously our department are endless.”
Benefit for local businesses
Mayor Murray Gray added at the meeting, “When people are coming to town for tournaments, and with two rinks at opposite sides of town, they will have to run back and forth on the business stretch of Main Street.
“They will be coming right through our downtown. That’s an opportunity for our entrepreneurs, when you have people coming to town and they spend money in our businesses. That is ideal.”
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