The opening of the new curling centre in North Battleford was a big moment not only for area curlers but also for its title sponsor, Northland Power.
The Ontario-based power company provided $750,000 to naming rights for the facility, which now permanently bears the name Northland Power Curling Centre.
The donation was made in 2010 at sod-turning ceremonies for Northland Power's 260 mega watt base load power plant being built east of the city. That helped kick off the massive $10 million fundraising effort for the Credit Union CUPlex project.
The curling component is now open, which pleases Northland Power Vice-President of Communications Boris Balan, who was at the grand opening Saturday afternoon, Oct. 27.
"We're excited as a company to be part of something like this," said Balan.
"It was a new venture for us. They came to us with a request and we thought about it and we jumped into it with two feet and we're so happy we did it. It's a great facility."
Balan said the company is "proud of the role it plays in communities wherever we do business. We know we depend on the goodwill and support of the community and we want to give something back to it. So we're always looking for an opportunity to do that."
He said this particular opportunity came about earlier than expected as the chairs of the CUPlex fundraising committee came calling before construction had even started on the plant.
"Two very persistent gentlemen named Rob Rongve and Health Gabruch found us and started talking to me first, and then the rest of the people in our company," said Balan.
"They were very convincing. They sold us on the vision of this facility and this whole complex and what it means to the community. We bid, and we're happy we did."
The persistence resulted in the presentation of a $750,000 cheque by Northland Power founder James Temerty to both Rongve and Gabruch at Northland Power's June 2010 sod turning.
During his remarks at the grand opening ceremonies, Balan praised the community for taking on the project.
"It shows the foresight and the leadership and the commitment of your community here."
Balan called it "probably the best curling facility I've ever seen in my life" - although he noted it was probably also the "only" curling facility he had seen in his life.
"But I can tell you, from what I know it's a great facility and I think you should all be very proud of it."
He also told the audience Northland Power intended to be a part of North Battleford for a long time. "Northland is here in force. We're a part of your community, you're not going to get rid of us now," said Balan.
Speaking to reporters following the ceremonies, Balan provided an update on the progress of construction at the Northland Power plant east of the city, which is scheduled for completion in 2013. He expects the natural gas-fired plant will be operational this coming spring.
"Sometime in April we will be fully commercial and running the facility at that point," said Balan. He expects a grand opening for the plant to be organized for May or June.
Most of the staff for the plant have been hired, including Newman Matchim, who is manager of operations in Saskatchewan. He previously managed plants in Ontario.
A number of the hires are from the immediate area, but there will also be some coming from Ontario as well as a couple of people who had been located in Alberta who were able to return to Saskatchewan, said Balan.
The new employees expect to get familiar with the plant while it is still under construction so they can be ready to go once the plant is operational. Because the plant is modern and automated, there won't be a large number of permanent positions once it opens up.
"It's only going to be 21 or 22 people," said Balan. "But they're good jobs, they're important jobs and we value them and we think the employees will value them as well."
