By Angie Rolheiser/CJVR

Water damage threatens Danceland

Nov 15, 2018 | 1:00 PM

High water levels have the future of Danceland at Manitou Beach in question.

An old fashioned barn dance gala will be held this Saturday for the ‘Save Danceland’ fund.

Owner Millie Strueby said a committee was formed and they began hosting galas to pay for building repairs that have incurred due to the rising water levels.

“We have raised about $40,000 which was enough to cover the first phase, so now we are starting on the second phase so hopefully we will get enough to do the next phase of the project,” Strueby said.

Danceland is in “dire straits” according to Strueby with the total cost of repairs estimated at $350,000.

First meeting

Interest piqued after Melfort Neighbourhood Watch program info meeting

21h ago

Wasted fish

Fish abandoned at Deschambault Lake

Apr 23, 2024

Leadership Needed to Stop Federal Overreach

Apr 23, 2024

“Phase one we did do that in September which was jacking and leveling of the building and we can really tell the difference here but there is still more work that has to be done,” Strueby said.

Patrick Boyle with the Water Security Agency (WSA) said the water levels remain a concern.

“The lake was last measured this year at 497.4 meters and the highest recorded level this year was 497.5 so that was approximately one centimetre below the peak level recorded,” Boyle said. “So, we’ve seen some of that lake level go down a little bit but it is still roughly one and a half metres higher than it was in 2010.”

The provincial government and WSA’s emergency flood damage and reduction program have raised around 2.5 km of an existing dike system at the village in 2016 and was finished in 2017 which came with a price tag of $3.2 million.

The initial building of the dike system before that combined with the raising has totalled $7 million since 2011.

“That dike system that is there is currently what is protecting the resort village from flooding right now,” Boyle said.

The water has not receded at all and remains a threat to those along the shoreline.

“Little Manitou is a closed lake so there is no natural outlet there that drains anywhere and it is salt water so that is a compounding factor,” Boyle said.

Saturday’s fundraising gala to save Danceland will feature the Blake Berglund band, line dancing lessons and banquet for $45 per person.

“We would hate to lose a thing of the past – something that made Manitou Beach what it is today, we would hate to lose that building so we are trying our very hardest to keep it going and keep the building intact,” Strueby said.