By Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

$1 million boost going towards community pool project in Picture Butte

Sep 26, 2018 | 10:17 AM

PICTURE BUTTE – The construction of a new pool in the Town of Picture Butte recently received a big boost from a well-known local philanthropist.

Cor Van Raay, the owner of Van Raay Paskal Farms Ltd. in Picture Butte, donated $1 million towards the community pool project on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

Picture Butte Mayor Cathy Moore says council knew Van Raay was going to be making a donation, but they didn’t know how much.

“A week before the donation was made he told us it was going to be $1 million. He had found out through one of our councillors that we were in the process of building a new swimming pool, and he had asked if we were going to build an indoor pool. That’s what he wanted us to build, but unfortunately in a small community that’s not something that we can do,” Moore said, adding they can’t afford to maintain an indoor pool tax-wise.

But when Van Raay found out that they were going ahead with an outside pool, Moore says they asked if he was interested in making a donation and he just smiled, and they left it at that.

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“It’s a $3.9 million project, so with his donation, we’re down to $2.9 million and the Town of Picture Butte has set aside $1.3,” Moore continued. “We still have a lot of fundraising to do for it, we’re hoping to get a few grants and that, but we’re still looking for major sponsors to step forward.”

Major fundraising initiatives are not new for Picture Butte. Ten years ago when the town was moving forward with the construction of a new arena, they relied on major fundraisers and members of the community to help them reach their goals.

In mid-October, there will be a fundraising get together to go about how they’ll be putting together the committee in order to do the rest of the fundraising, but they’re hoping to do it without having to take any loans out according to Moore.

Picture Butte residents interested in donating to the pool project can do so by contacting the Town Office at 403-732-4555.

Premiere Custom Homes was awarded the contract for building the pool and pool house, and work should be getting started soon.

“The original pool has already been demolished, and the pool house. Now that we have Premiere Custom Homes under contract they will start on the pool house right away, I believe in the beginning of October, and the pool itself will be started in the spring.”

Moore is hoping that by the end of 2019, Picture Butte will have their pool fully functional.

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