The new drywall is up, next is the ceiling and bathroom fixtures. Painting should start in a couple of weeks, should you wish to volunteer please advise the Town Office. Painting should be completed in a weekend if we get enough help.

September 2011 update

The Rossburn Fitness Centre Committee will be hosting a fundraiser steak dinner and social evening on Saturday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m., Canad Inn Pembina Highway in Winnipeg.

This “Rossburn Reunion” will allow us reach out to people with a connection to Rossburn who wish to assist with this project, while reconnecting with friends from our hometown and area. For $25, you will dine on a full steak dinner, with one beer or shot. There will also be a cash bar for the evening.

For those who are not aware, plans for a fitness centre started about a year ago. Renovations have begun on the old Swintak’s Grocery Store (between Slon’s garage and the liquor store), which has been vacant for several years. Future plans include a physiotherapist office located in the back of the building.

Of the $200,000 required to renovate the building and purchase exercise equipment, the committee has to date raised $130,000.

We hope to see you there and appreciate your support. Tickets, which will be held for you at the event, can be purchased by sending a cheque, payable to Town of Rossburn, C/O Linda Yaskiw, 460 Shelley St., Winnipeg MB R3K 1G3; or to Town of Rossburn, Box 70, Rossburn, MB R0J 1V0. We are required to advise Canan Inns of anticipated attendance by October 22, 2011.

Menu: Steak, garlic toast, baked potato, mushrooms, vegetable, Caesar salad, beer or shot

Halloween costume is optional.

Rossburn Fitness Centre Committee

Ilse Ketelsen – Chair
Diane Maxwell – Vice Chair
Glenda Sidoryk - Secretary
Kerry Lawless – Treasurer
Nancy Drul – Fundraising
Gary Gibbs Shirley Kalyniuk; Bev Kostecki; Mark Wood; Ed Zimmerman; Ron Kreshewski

Special Thanks to the following supporters:

Housing & Community Development Community Places Program ($35,000)
Manitoba Community Service Council Inc. ($20,000)
Vanguard Credit Union ($5,000)
Rossburn Lions Club ($5,000)

June 2011 update

Thank you to all of you who supported the Fitness Centre/Physiotherapy Clinic project by coming out to our evening with Nestor Pistor. Not only was it a fun event, but we were able to raise about $3,000.00 which will be put to good use for renovations.We apologize to those who weren't able to taste everything we cooked; we promise to do better next time.

In regard to the progress of the project, we ca report that funds raised to date will allow us to proceed with Phase 1 of the renovations, which is a major part of the complete renovation plans. Additional grants are in the process of being reviewed and we continue to apply for new opportunities as they become available. Grans have also been received for the purchase of some of the exercise equipment. The Fitness Centre Committee has been working on finalizing the drawings for the lay-out of the building as well as working on a detailed llist of materials needed for Phase 1.

Pay-what-you-pull (free to $2) tickets are still available at various businesses and the municipal offices. First prize is a 2-night stay in Winnipeg to enjoy Celebrations dinner theatre, a Blue Bomber-Eskimos footbal game and $200 spending money. Second prize is a one-night stay at Elkhorn Resort, including a boat ride on the Marteses on Clear Lake to arrive at Supper-in-the-Field for a succulent supper prepared by chefs using mainly local ingredients.

Reminder to all fitness minded in and around town: We are still selling founding memberships for the fitness centre at $150. It gives you the opportunity to support the fitness centre AND will give you a reduction on memberships for the next 5 years. Tax deductible donations and pledges of volunteer labour are gratefully accepted.

Update on the Physiotherpay Clinic: Our futur physiotherapist has achieved his first step toward immigration and has applied for a work permit. He has found employment outside his specialty for a year, the time it takes to be recognized by Manitoba authorities to be allowed to practice physiotherapy. This coincides with completion of Phase II of our renovations. Our own physiotherpist! Right here in Rossburn!

March 3, 2011 Press release

Rossburn puts physical activity and healthy lifestyle first.

Being situated next to the beauty of Riding Mountain National Park and home to world class fly-fishing venues are natural advantages the Community of Rossburn enjoys. Enhancing this natural setting through additional healthy lifestyle options will make Rossburn a choice destination for health and nature enthusiasts. With the completion of the new Rossman Lake playground, the next step for the community is a Fitness Centre and Physiotherapy Clinic.

Ilse Ketelsen has been working for several months with Community Places, a Provincial Department that provides funding and project consultation services, to identify a suitable building and location to be the new home for a fitness centre.

“We looked at several locations, which were found to be unsuitable, and when the vacant building on Manitoba Avenue became available, we were told the size and location was perfect for this project”, enthuses Ketelsen, who recently accepted the position of Economic Development Officer after one term as a councillor for the R.M. of Rossburn. “The renovation and occupancy of this building will help in our efforts to rejuvenate our downtown area. It is ideal for lunch hour workouts for those employed in the downtown area and is centrally located for the whole community. There are currently two other new businesses considering downtown locations”, says Ketelsen. “We have also seen an increased demand for rental properties and home and property purchases. Immigrants, many with young families, are choosing to live in our Community because of the superior lifestyle it offers. There are several cottage developments located at our numerous lakes. Increased population results in more demand for services. A physiotherapist from Egypt is eager to complete his paperwork so he can set up his services in the Fitness Centre.”

The Centre will offer treadmills, recumbent and upright bikes, a multi-station, a rower as well as benches for free weights. An open area will be available for stretching and other classes, including sessions for seniors. The facility will feature a fingerprint lock systems, showers, lounging area with internet access and will be wheel-chair accessible.

The final price tag for this project is still being determined. Success is contingent on support from the community as funding for a portion of this initiative from the Recreation Reserves from both municipalities is conditional on a minimum number of founding members being pre-sold. Applications for several Provincial and Regional grants have been completed. The Fitness Centre Committee must source other funding such as donations, corporate sponsorships, fundraising and volunteer labour. “Our intent is to avoid the use of taxpayer’s money, other than the reserve funds that were set aside specifically for recreational services” explains Town of Rossburn Mayor Shirley Kalyniuk. “This needs to be a community effort to succeed”.

Several fundraising initiatives, including a pay-what-you-pull raffle, a comedy night, a bottle drive and a concert are in the planning stages. An open house will be held in the Rossburn Community Hall on March 18. All founding memberships and private and corporate donations will be held in trust until it is determined that the project will proceed. For more information, or to pledge volunteer labour, founding memberships or tax deductible donations , visit the Town of Rossburn office or call Kerry at 859-2762.

Benefits

The project has a lot of benefits for Rossburn:

Promotes physical fitness
A new business and a downtown building occupied
Facility for people with disabilities
Something to do for the younger (and not so young) generation
Another local health care option
Another attraction to bring new people to the area
More people coming into town and supporting local businesses
Providing more work for locals (renovations to be done)
Opportunity to improve overall lifestyle

Something for everyone!

Latest developments

The Town has a signed offer to purchase for the building on Manitoba Ave (former video store) with a total of 2,700 square feet, about 1,550 square feet will be dedicated to the fitness area itself, 2 rooms will be available for physiotherapy service and another health related services.

An engineer's study has been received, the building can be renovated to meet safety standards.

We are looking at a variety of funding sources: provincial and regional grants, MB Hydro grant, local government funding, corporate and service club sponsorships, founding memberships and donations. Our intent is to avoid tax increases to fund this project.

Timeline:

Begin renovations of the building in April 2011
Opening of the Fitness Centre in September 2011
Work on the finishing touches for the physiotherapy clinic over the winter of 2011/2012
Opening of the clinic is planned for 2012.

There may be an additional room available for additional health care options such as acupuncture, chiropractor or others, depending on availability of specialists.