COLD LAKE – The Reid Field House at the Cold Lake Energy Centre was packed on Aug. 28 as residents came together for community registration and information night.
The annual event brought dozens of local clubs, sports teams, and volunteer groups under one roof, giving families and newcomers a chance to see what Cold Lake has to offer.
"We love to run it because we have a lot of organizations that people just don't know about, so it's their opportunity to come out,” said Heather Miller, recreation programs and services manager for the City of Cold Lake.
She said the event gave people a quick snapshot of everything the city offers, from sports and arts to community programs.
She explained that nearly every sports group was represented. “We have a lot of our sports organizations,” Miller said. “I think actually the only one we don't have is minor hockey, just because their registration closed back in June.”
She added, “we've got our figure skaters, we've got our cheer teams… there's a variety of everything, so if you're sports related or not, there's something for everyone here, and there's something for families, youth, and adults too.”
Because Cold Lake has many newcomers due to the military and oil industry, the event helps people quickly learn about local programs and choose activities for the season, Miller added.
“We increased 30 percent from last year's registrations, which is great,” Miller said, though she noted numbers are still slightly below pre-COVID levels. Online options have made registration easier, but she stressed that “that face-to-face contact is so important.”
For Miller, the heart of the event is about connection. “I think it's just a great opportunity for somebody to come together and the community comes together and for one day we're all in one roof, right?” she said. “We keep adding more and more, so people love it and see the benefit.”
With families signing up for everything from figure skating to volunteer programs, Miller said the event also helps not-for-profits gain visibility.
"Just on the city side, we'd love to do this because we love to showcase what we have,” she said. “We have a lot of not-for-profits who maybe don't have that resource to do the website side.”
