2012 will be remembered as a historic year in the history of North Battleford, as the Credit Union CUPlex was completed.
Three of the CUPlex components - the aquatic centre, theatre and curling centre -opened in September and by December the field house was closing in on completion as well.
While the construction was not without its challenges along the way - the theatre component was delayed by a number of months, and the delay for the Field House ended up scuttling a planned New Year's celebration for the venue - the end result was exactly what was hoped for by supporters and fundraisers for the new facilities.
The big question early on was which facility was going to be the first to open. For a while it looked as if the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts had the inside track, but a number of manpower issues on the site pushed back the timeline for that component considerably. The aquatic centre had its delays as well.
The Northland Power Curling Centre was the first component to achieve substantial completion on July 25. The aquatic centre was next on Aug.13 and the Dekker Centre on Sept. 6.
When it came time to open the facilities, the order was rearranged again as the aquatic centre became the first to officially open, with the theatre second and the curling centre third. The curling centre's grand opening was pushed back to October for the simple reason that the curling season doesn't start until that time.
Much of the activity in September surrounded the transition from the former Kinsmen Aquatic Centre to the new Battlefords Co-op Aquatic Centre, with training at the new facility.
Finally, the long-awaited day of the grand opening came Sept. 15. The new aquatic centre features a six-lane pool, a large wave pool, a lazy river, two water slides, and a hot tub and steam room.
Among those invited to help with the ribbon cutting was Pat Smith of Battlefords and District Co-op, as well as Alice Henderson, wife of long time city employee Bill Henderson who was honoured for his work in various capacities at the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre. Bill was not able to attend and sadly passed away in October.
Also on hand was a pleased Parks and Recreation Director Keith Anderson. He noted the contractors Jen-Col Construction survived "one of the coldest winters ever" as well as storms, wind chill, a ground-water issue and subcontractor issues in making it to that day.
"It's been a long and winding road getting to this day," Anderson said. "You'll realize it's all worth every minute of effort."
The opening brought a lot of smiles but also tears to some eyes, including those of Mayor Ian Hamilton who noted this was just the start.
"Everybody here recognizes and sees what is being built here. This is one component of something that is drawing the whole community together. People are seeing it now and recognizing it and feeling it."
A few days later on Sept. 19, community members were back at the CUPlex Rotary Plaza again, this time as part of the CTV Home Town Tour and their live broadcast from the city.
Just prior to that broadcast came a major announcement that fundraisers had waited for for a long time: news that they had met their $10 million fundraising goal.
Putting them over the top was a $100,000 contribution from Scott Builders, contractor for the field house and curling centre, as well as a $250,000 contribution from Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs CDC to go to sponsor the stage at the Dekker Centre, to be henceforce called the Gordon Tootoosis Memorial Stage.
Fundraising co-chairs Rob Rongve and Heath Gabruch were justifiably elated. "This is a very historic day," said Gabruch at the announcement. "It's a little overwhelming, actually. This is something we have been at for three years and for us and the entire committee to be able to see what we've actually done, it's an unbelievable feeling that this community will have a world-class facility such as this for years to come."
Mayor Ian Hamilton paid tribute to all the fundraisers but especially to Rongve and Gabruch for their "persistence" in pursuit of the $10 million goal. "In these guys' minds there was never a doubt they were going to make it," said Hamilton. "They did not quit."
September 20 to 23 marked four days of grand opening celebrations at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts, with the Saturday night performance featuring recording artist Colin James while Sunday night's event featured the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra.
Their first event, though, came the week before when they hosted a United Way trade show Sept. 13, an event that featured Marc Kielberger of Free the Children as a keynote speaker.
Soon after, the Dekker Centre would be host to various events including the Battlefords Business Excellence Awards in early October.
On Oct. 22, Premier Brad Wall was the guest speaker at a Chamber luncheon and got a tour of the facility as well.
Next up on the agenda was the opening of the Northland Power Curling Centre, which began operations with a "soft" opening for events in September. One of those was a classic car show that took place in late September just prior to the ice going in.
By mid-October, the ice was installed and the first league play was underway at the facility. There was also a name picked for the curling club formed from the former Granite and Battleford curling clubs - the Twin Rivers Curling Club.
Oct. 27 marked the memorable grand opening ceremonies at the new curling centre, complete with bagpipes and the throwing of the ceremonial "twin" first rocks. Among the curling personalities on hand for the opening were former women's national curling champion Amber Holland and the reigning Saskatchewan champion Scott Manners and his team, who had curled out of Battleford Curling Club the season before. Their championship banner was raised at the grand opening ceremonies.
One of those on hand for the opening was an impressed Northland Power vice-president Boris Balan, whose company was the title sponsor of the curling centre. "Northland is here in force. We're a part of your community, you're not going to get rid of us now," said Balan in his opening remarks.
While curlers took to the new curling centre quickly, the former Battleford Curling Club rink was being purchased by the Town of Battleford, with Battle River Archers expressing interest in using the facility.
The final big event of 2012 that was scheduled was the opening of the Battlefords Tribal Council Field House. It was supposed to be the New Year's Eve event ushering in the centennial celebrations of 2013.
But celebrations of the grand opening of that component would have to wait, as the city announced that due to construction delays the New Year's event would be forced to move to the Civic Centre instead.
Overall, it was a memorable 2012 for the Credit Union CUPlex and local residents can look forward to the first full year of operation for the facilities in 2013.
