Stony Mountain Community Association has marked many achievements over the years, and plenty of excitement is on the horizon for 2025.
Representatives from the volunteer-based non-profit organization recently outlined these successes to Rockwood council. At the same time, they requested $2,500 in grant funding to go towards their initiatives for Remembrance Day ($1,000), the Canada Day Family Festival ($500), minor softball/baseball ($500) and soccer ($500).
Board president Marcia Desmedt explained that the annual Family Festival on June 30 is the event that really started the SMCA.
“Approximately 20 years, ago a group of Stony Mountain residents led by Greg Popoff held a street party on the night before Canada Day to raise money for playground equipment at what would become Kelpin Park,” she said.
“The event was a huge success, and with the exception of 2020 and 2021, it has happened every year since. For the past few years, the event moved to Centennial Park and Bison Bandstand. The event includes food, entertainment with a live band, bouncy castles, kids’ games, fireworks and more.”
In addition to asking for $500 from the RM’s grant program, they’re also asking for written permission for the fireworks display and liquor permit.
For the past few years for Canada Day, SMCA has organized the celebrations, including a parade, free lunch and community water fight.
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Throughout the year, they’ve also hosted three to five events at Bison Bandstand, with each one averaging 400 to 600 people in attendance. Some tentative bookings are already in place for 2025.
Since the Stony Mountain Legion shut down, SMCA has also organized the local Remembrance Day services, which are typically well attended by more than 300 people at the community centre. Even more people join the procession to the cenotaph for an additional short service, followed by a light lunch at the hall.
And for the past 14 years, SMCA has operated minor softball and baseball programs from April to July. These programs typically involve about 100 participants ranging in age from four to 17, plus multiple volunteer coaches and managers.
Except for a two-year break during the pandemic, SMCA’s soccer program has operated since 2012 in May and June. This program also involves up to 100 participants aged three to 12.
In addition, adult slow pitch launched in 2012 and runs each June through August before winding up with a tournament in September. The league usually has up to 200 participants on eight to 12 teams.
“The SMCA adult slow pitch league managed another great season last year as we have done every year since 2012,” said SMCA board member Tony Hoess, who serves as treasurer.
As part of the organization’s sports program, they manage the bookings for the sports fields as well as the operating activities. They’re asking the RM to continue mowing the fields and emptying the garbage bins. Looking ahead, they’re also hoping to expand the sports field. They’re requesting that the RM continue leading discussions with Stony Mountain Institute about securing a property for future expansion.
The organization’s main annual fundraiser is the Abas Auto Stony Mountain Run, which raises money to help develop trails and to redevelop Centennial Park. So far, they’ve raised about $35,000 while also encouraging an active lifestyle. Like last year, the 2025 run will take place on the Quarry Trail network, starting and ending at the Bison Bandstand. SMCA asked council to consider a tune-up of the quarry trails and parking area before the run. This year’s Stony Mountain Run is slated for Aug. 23.
Dave van Heyst, vice-president of the board, noted that SMCA’s vision for developing new trails in the quarry is essentially complete with no plans for new trails this year.
“We are extremely happy the RM is leading a regional trail concept. We are also very pleased with the maintenance done by the RM on the Stony Mountain trails in the past few years and look forward to that continuing,” he said.
They’re asking council to add funds to the budget for additional work on sidewalks and paths along certain streets in the RM.
And for the past few years, SMCA has been working to redevelop Centennial Park. Landscaping work will continue this year, including a retaining wall, wood chips and a memorial garden area.
“We first presented the plans for this project to council at a council meeting in 2019,” van Heyst said. “Since then, we have tamed the old park site and completed the construction of Bison Bandstand on the concrete deck of the old pool in Centennial Park, done significant landscaping, added electrification and lighting, installed a concrete washroom facility and more. We think it turned out great so far.”
With permission from the RM, they also installed an engraved entrance stone last year to welcome visitors to Centennial Park.
Council will consider the funding request.
To learn more about Stony Mountain Community Organization, visit www.stonymountainmb.ca.
