The Bouchie Lake Outdoor Rink recently received some renovations to revitalize the popular recreation facility for residents of Bouchie Lake and Millburn Lake. To celebrate the refreshed rink, Margo Wagner, chair, Northern Development and Cariboo Regional District, along with other community representatives, participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday February 19.
“Once this project is completed, this rural community will have a safe, accessible and easy-to maintain facility with recreation opportunities for all ages,” said Chair Wagner.
The Bouchie Lake Outdoor Rink is extremely popular in the winter months as an accessible place to skate or play hockey. In the warmer months, ice hockey is replaced with ball hockey, skating with rollerblading and games of pickup basketball also take place.
The rink is an important amenity for students and families who live in the area, as many live far away from Quesnel, so time, transportation and registration fees are a barrier for those wanting to access community recreation facilities and programs in Quesnel. The Bouchie Lake Outdoor Rink is easy walking distance from Bouchie Lake Elementary School, providing children and youth with a safe place to play outside at no cost.
To ensure the venue will continue to benefit current and future community members, significant upgrades had to be completed, including replacing rink boards, filling concrete gaps on the playing surface, painting, sealing and rebuilding basketball frames and hoops. Most of the project has been completed, with some concrete work to be done once the weather warms up.
Northern Development approved a $30,000 Community Places grant to the Cariboo Regional District in June 2021 to help with the $51,084 project.
