The Keystone Cup, Western Canadian Junior B Hockey Championships are going to be held in Arborg this year. Municipality of Bifrost-Riverton reeve Harold Foster says it's a once-in-a-lifetime event for them.

"That's coming up shortly, and of course we're going to sponsor it and come up with some of the costs for it," notes Foster. "It comes to Manitoba every four years, and last time it was in the La Broquerie, I believe. And we were fortunate enough to get it into Arborg this year."

Foster says neighbouring towns will also benefit, via provision for hotel accommodations for visitors.

Council received a short presentation yesterday morning about the championships, and is giving $1000 as support, with the overall estimate for the event at around $30,000. Foster says the Arborg Ice Dawgs are quite a profitable team, with some money to cover some of the cost, along with contributions from the Rec Centre as well. 

Foster explains with all of the teams there from other provinces, they're expecting between 800 and 1000 people in town per day. He adds they had to bring the Arborg Arena up to specifications to provide a certain number of dressing rooms, as well as fulfil criteria for access to them from the ice, in order qualify for application. 

The event takes place Easter weekend. Some businesses will stay opened for extra hours to facilitate visitors as part of their preparations.