Ladies in Fort Coulonge dusted off their cowboy boots for a dance on Saturday night, organized at the Centre de Loisirs des Draveurs Century 21 Elite as a fundraiser for the arena.
Attendees got dressed in their best cowgirl attire including boots, plaid and cowboy hats, and enjoyed a rootin’ tootin’ evening of line dancing, cocktails, and live music.
Organizer Heidi Newberry said the event was intended as something different for the women in the community to do on a Saturday night.
“The men are gone hunting, the women need a night out, so we said now would be the perfect time,” she said.
Newberry added that the funds from the evening will be used to pay for some of the arena’s ongoing projects such as the recent acquisition of board from the Arnprior arena, as well as ongoing maintenance.
“We are looking for more funds to just make sure that everything is ready for the season,” she said.
Stéphane Béland, president of the Centre de Loisirs des Draveurs arena committee, said fundraisers like these help to supplement other sources of income in making sure the arena can keep running year after year.
“The last two years we’ve spent close to $600,000, and we don’t owe one penny,” he said.
Béland said the installation of the boards the committee acquired from Arnprior is nearly complete and that certain panels on the exterior of the boards need to be installed.
He said with the new boards and a brand-new ice plant purchased last season, the arena is ready to start off strong for another year.
“We’re in top shape, there’s nothing else to be changed except we want to do the bathrooms, change rooms, but as far as big expenses, nothing [right now],” he said.
