Many Elliot Lake groups have come together to launch the Centennial Arena Fundraising effort.
The group includes the city, along with minor hockey, the skating club, Rotary and ELNOS.
The goal is to raise $500,000 to assist with repairs to the arena.
The 500k goal will be a little easier to reach, thanks to a donation from former Elliot Lake residents Jamie and Jo-Ann Armstrong. The two donated $300,000. In honour of their donation, the initiative will be called the Jamie and Jo-Ann Armstrong Centennial Arena Repair Fundraising Challenge.
Mr. Armstrong says he grew up playing hockey in Elliot Lake and remembers the excitement when the city finally got an indoor arena. He’s challenging residents and businesses to join in on restoring  it and to help create memories for generations to come.
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong and the groups heading up the effort hope that other organizations
including businesses will step forward and help raise funds. This campaign will start on April
12th with the launch of the donation page ElliotLake.ca/arenadonation and will run until August 31st. There will be several events to fundraise including an Elliot Lake Minor Hockey hosted ball hockey tournament. All donations made through the website will be eligible for a tax receipt.
About the Donors
Mr. Armstrong serves as CEO and president of JDA Investments (US), Inc., based in Phoenix, AZ. He was the founder and CEO of JDA Software, a provider of software to the world-wide retail industry. Mr. Armstrong is involved with a number of charitable endeavors. He is president and chairman of the Kiita Foundation, president of the Armstrong Family Foundation and chairman of the Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation Jo-Ann Armstrong, in addition to raising four children, was instrumental in the development of JDA Software in its’ early years. She has served, through the family’s foundation, in a variety of philanthropic endeavors and currently serves on the board of the Kiita Foundation. Mr. & Mrs. Armstrong both enjoyed growing up in Elliot Lake.
Visit elliotlake.ca/arenadonation for more information.