Landmarks come down in Waskada

Friday, 20 November 2020 09:10

Landmarks come down in Waskada

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Not all young love fades with the season. Debbie Temple of Waskada recently received a piece of her past when the community rink was demolished. Just prior to the building coming down last week, the son of the old caretaker, Murray Stewart, took one last look around. He came across a heart with B.T. + D.M written in the cement. He sent a pic to his sister, who contacted Temple. The markings were made about 1970, when the cement was being put in. Blaine Temple and Debbie McKinney, about 13 years old at the time, snuck in and professed their love in the hardening concrete. This was not just a passing puppy love either, as the couple eventually got married. Blaine passed away in 2015, but with this piece of history in her possession, she can always remember how love can begin early and continue for a lifetime.

The year 2020 will go down in history around the world as the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the community of Waskada, the year 2020 will be remembered as the time two landmarks were demolished. The Municipality of Brenda-Waskada hired Tim’s Backhoe Service to knock down the hotel in April, and this month they hired Jaytan Excavation and Transfer to bring down the old skating/curling rink structures.
The rinks were officially opened in December 1948. The two-sheet curling rink was created from two agricultural barns in 1943 and an outdoor rink was added on the north side. That rink was used for five winters. The last time there was ice in the rinks was the winter of 2015-2016.
“We made ice for the fall of 2016 in the new facility and were granted our occupancy permit January 2017,” said Diane Woodworth, CEO for the Municipality of Brenda-Waskada. “Jason Hofer did an awesome job of dropping the old rink,” she added.

In fact, Hofer went above and beyond. When he learned the history of a piece of cement with initials B.T. & D.M. and a heart around it, he saved it and delivered it to D.M. – Debra (McKinney) Temple.
Fifty years ago Blaine Temple and Debbie snuck into the rink after the cement was poured and carved their initials into a heart at the northeast corner of the catwalk. It really is a love story as Blaine and Debra got married.
This is one of those serendipitous moments when the words ‘it was meant to be’ rings true.
The day before the rink was to be demolished, Murray Stewart wanted to do one last walk around. His dad, Ernie Stewart was the caretaker of the rink for many years. He came across the heart with the initials and took a picture of it, sent it to his sister Donna, who in turn emailed it to Temple. Upon seeing the photo of the cement, Temple again snuck into the rink at night to make sure it was one and the same heart. She then contacted Jason Hofer to see about saving it.
“Jason was so great about it - he loved the story and made sure to be careful with the cement,” said Temple.
Hofer was able to rescue the slab and loaded it onto a trailer for Temple.
Deb figures she and Blaine set their love in stone around 1970, which would make them 13 at the time. Deb and Blaine were married five years later in 1975. Blaine passed away in 2015,
“Being able to bring this home for them was something we are incredibly honoured to be a part of,” said Hofer.
“My kids are over the moon about this whole story and especially keeping the cement. We have plans to put it into a patio at the farm,” concluded Temple.

BY JUDY WELLS, Recorder Staff

Read 125 times Last modified on Thursday, 26 November 2020 16:36

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