Last year, 15 small and rural communities from across Saskatchewan participated in the CRIS Ice Rink Cohort, a hands‑on program designed to improve their ice rink upgrade projects, lower costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Many communities started with similar problems, like old arenas, high operating costs, and poor heating, cooling, insulation, and energy use.

Through the cohort, participants gained clarity on project scope and early design considerations, strengthened their understanding of funding pathways, and left with clear roadmaps to move their rink or arena upgrades forward.