The doors of the 100 Mile Agriplex have been flung open to the public again.
The old Stan Halcro Arena was closed to the public in the fall of 2009 because of concerns for public safety.
While it was prudent, the decision to lock the doors tossed a lot of user groups out into the cold and had them searching for a place to continue wintertime activities.
When the new arena became operational, the old hockey arena was soon turned into a multi-use facility.
The Rotary Club of 100 Mile House purchased it for $1 and covered the concrete floor with suitable material that would allow horses and other four-legged creatures to walk and run about safely.
The Rotarians’ goal was to provide a multi-use arena that would primarily serve the agricultural community in the South Cariboo.
The revamped facility soon attracted all kinds of groups that worked with horses, cattle, dogs and the local 4-H clubs. The local archery club also used the arena as an indoor shooting facility.
Eventually, it was determined the old arena had some structural safety concerns, and the doors were locked.
Determined representatives of the former user groups got together and formed a coalition to save the Old Stan Halcro Arena and get it opened again.
One thing lead to another during the next few months and the Rotary club eventually turned the building over to a newly formed 100 Mile Agriplex Society.
Working with a zero budget, the society started fundraising and jumping through bureaucratic hoops to open the doors again.
The group waded through the red tape, misunderstandings and misinformation, but they hung in and did everything that was asked of them even when the future looked bleak.
It is because of this determination, the society convinced the two local governments that the Agriplex could and would be opened because the money was in place to do so.
If this group had faltered at any step along the way, it is likely the folks, who will be using the Agriplex throughout the coming years, would not have had a facility to use.
Hats off to the little society that made it happen.