The Saskatchewan government has doubled program funding to $5,000 per rink, investing $3.2 million annually.

Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross says the rinks are important to Saskatchewan communities because they are a place where people of all ages come together.

The program grants are used to help pay operating costs for indoor skating and curling rinks on urban and rural municipalities, First Nation communities, Canadian Forces Bases, schools and registered non-profit groups.

There were 376 facilities (576 ice surfaces in total) that benefitted from the program last year. Applications are now open and close on February 27th.