RM commits $75,000 to Mike Schwean arena upgrades
Moosomin Town Council
March 16, 2026, 1:08 pm
Nicole Taylor, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
At the Moosomin town council meeting on Tuesday, councillor Kyla Fingas reported that the RM of Moosomin has committed to $25,000 a year over three years—a total of $75,000—for upgrades at the Mike Schwean Arena.
She said that Rec Director Mike Schwean was hoping the town would also put in a contribution of $50,000 a year over three years—for a total of $150,000—toward upgrades to the arena which he hopes will be completed over the summer of 2028.
Schwean said at a previous council meeting that the goal is to have the Mike Schwean Arena in top shape by the 2028-29 rink season. A committee of community members has been formed to look at the potential for building a second, more basic arena in Moosomin, without using town money, and Schwean says it would be his hope that the second arena could be opened around the same time as the Mike Schwean Arena improvements are completed so that Moosomin has two nice rinks and can host more events and accommodate additional ice time.
He said the plan would be to replace any fir damaged in the rink boards at the Mike Schwean Arean, replace the puck board, the signage, doors, locks, and install six-foot plexiglass (currently there is four-foot plexiglass in the rink), as well as look at putting in new netting, new seating, new rubber, and new paint in parts of the arena.
He estimates the upgrades will cost between $400,000 and $500,000 and has started approaching groups for fundraising for the project.
He says that groups like Community Acres, the Kinsmen, and the Moose are all interested in helping with the upgrades, and that the town has also applied for the RCMP Musical Ride and is looking at hosting a Sportsman’s supper as fundraisers.
Schwean said last week that if fundraising falls into place, the plan would be to do the upgrades to the Mike Schwean Arena over the summer of 2028.
RM of Moosomin Administrator Kendra Lawrence said that the RM always puts $25,000 a year toward a capital rec project in Moosomin, and felt that the rink upgrades were an important project that needed a three-year commitment.
“We contribute $25,000 annually towards a capital project and the rec department gives us options on what we would like to support,” she says.
“Mike requested that— seeing as how this was a more substantial project—we contribute three years worth of commitment to it, so council was in favor of making that three year commitment for 2026, 2027, and 2028 totaling the $75,000.”
Lawrence says in the past the RM has contributed to things like renovations to the rink bathrooms, the media room in the Convention Centre, a heated pool cover, to the curling rink, to dressing room alterations, to an equipment shed at Bradley Park, and to the score clocks at the ball diamonds.
“We try to pick something where you can visually see that we’ve done something to help support the rec department, because we do know that our rate payers in the RM do use the services of the town for recreation.”
Jacobs is town’s new emergency measures co-ordinator
Council passed a motion to appoint Lyndon Jacobs as the town’s Emergency Measures Co-ordinator as of April 1. Previously, the position was held by the late Larry Tomlinson.
First reading of bylaw to rezone former SE College land for plumbing shop
Council gave first reading to a bylaw to rezone land where the former Southeast College building is located on Park Avenue from Community Service to Regional Commercial. The building has been purchased by Skulmoski Plumbing and Heating and will be used as a plumbing and heating shop.
Motion passed for dedicated construction crew
Council passed a motion to appoint Quinn Glasser, Payton Margetts, Mike Matichuk, and Ryan Piper to a public works construction crew effective May 1.
The town made the decision to form a dedicated construction crew made up of existing public works employees so that the other employees could continue to tend to public works duties while the construction crew tends to issues that pop up like water breaks.
Redvers thankful for sale of part for water treatment plant
Council received a thank you from the town of Redvers for selling the town of Redvers a control board from Moosomin’s former water treatment plant.
Moosomin couldn’t use the control board, and when the Redvers water treatment plant went down, the town sold it to Redvers for $2,000—half the price of what Moosomin paid for it new. The control board was fairly new and still under warranty.
“We are especially grateful that council was willing to provide the equipment at a price lower than originally discussed. When communities face challenges, it is reassuring to know that our neighbouring municipalities are willing to step forward and offer assistance,” wrote Redvers CAO Tricia Pickard. “We are thankful to be part of a region where that partnership exists.
“Please accept our many thanks for your generosity and support.”
Letter of thanks after funeral
Council also received a letter of thanks at their meeting on Tuesday from Marg Tomlinson, the wife of former mayor Larry Tomlinson, who passed away in January. She thanked the town for the flowers and lunch provided to the family the day of the funeral.
“Larry really enjoyed his years of working for the town and all the challenges that came with it,” she wrote.
