The Fillmore Recreation Centre has been chosen as one of the top five finalists in Saskatchewan for the BASF Growing Home contest. The contest helps to support a community organization from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, who will each win $25,000 to help grow their communities.

The last day to vote is Wednesday, May 31st, and individuals can submit their votes HERE.

If successful, the Fillmore Recreation Centre will win $25,000, which will go towards much needed kitchen renovations at their facility.

Logan Keller, President of the Fillmore Recreation Board, said that the winner of the contest is determined by votes, and the $25,000 can be put towards whatever project that organization needs.

"So for the rink, our kitchen is in need of upgrades to be able to run for next year. So we got new boards in the rink, which was awesome, we got a lot of ice rentals, but now the kitchen needs upgrading. So if we don't get that, then we're probably going to lose a lot of the rentals that we gained in the last year."

The grill and the fryer need to be upgraded, Keller said, and a lot of the cost will go towards things that people can't see, like the air exchange.  

Keller explained that they looked at quotes for the kitchen renovations to get a ballpark of what it would cost, and one estimate put the project at $60,000 just for the kitchen equipment. "That wasn't including labour or anything to get it all set up, so we're in need of some money."

Fillmore Rec CentreThe Fillmore Recreation Centre holds a number of activities throughout the year. (Photo courtesy of Logan Keller, President of the Fillmore Recreation Board).

Keller said that they're going to need some help from Weyburn and area with voting, "because we're up against communities like Davidson and Indian Head. So we don't quite have the voter base to draw from that they've got up there."

In terms of how the Fillmore Recreation Centre became a part of the contest, Keller said that they nominated the facility in April, and then the judges picked the top five finalists for each of the prairie provinces. 

"For Saskatchewan, we're one of the top five. They have the website for the growing home contest and there's a page for each province. So you go to Saskatchewan and scroll down, and there should be 'Fillmore Recreation Centre' and you click vote and put your e-mail address in on the bottom, and then that confirms your vote."

Each email address can vote once.

Keller added that the winner of the $25,000 will be announced on June 12th.

Fillmore Kitchen upgradesThe kitchen at the Fillmore Recreation Centre is in need of some upgrades in order to remain operational this winter. (Photo courtesy of Logan Keller, President of the Fillmore Recreation Board).