Rimbey Elementary secures $5,000 grant from Hockey Alberta

RIMBEY -- Hockey Alberta has awarded a $5,000 grant to Rimbey Elementary School.

The school says they originally applied for the grant due to a dire need to replace much-needed safety equipment for their skating and sports programs. With the funding, Rimbey Elementary says they were able to secure forty new helmets for students, as well as additional adult skates for older students.

"We were down to six usable helmets," said Bre Button, Rimbey Elementary's administrative assistant. "There was a moment of, 'Well, now what?' We didn’t want to cancel the program, so we turned to the community and started searching for help."

Button says that though families in the community generously donated used and even new helmets, the school still faced a significant shortfall. This comes as staff discovered prior to the school year that nearly all their helmets had expired. After applying for various grants, the school was approved for the $5,000 grant from Hockey Alberta's community grants, which support new or existing programs.

"Our skating program isn’t just for the hockey kids," said Button. "For many students, it’s their first time on the ice, and it’s all about building confidence and having fun. Our sports option program for grades four to six will also benefit, with activities like broom hockey and mini-sticks."

The new equipment is expected to have a lifespan of seven years and will be ready for next school year.