News Archives: Hawker Pavilion on GPRC Fairview Campus Gets New Life
Tuesday, October 1st, 2013
GPRC is pleased to announce a partnership with Swartzy Performance Horses to operate GPRC’s Hawker Pavilion (Horse Boarding Facilities and Indoor Riding Arena) located at the GPRC Campus in Fairview, Alberta. The agreement, effective October 1, 2013, allows the College to continue providing the facility for community use without using resources intended for academic purposes.
Swartzy Performance Horses (SPH), operated by Dallas and Garry Schwerdt of Fairview, Alberta, has partnered with GPRC with a shared dream of the Hawker Pavilion becoming a renowned equine facility in Northern Alberta. The partners are committed to growing access to equine activities and boarding options available to our community.
“We at SPH are very excited about the opportunity to bring new life to the Hawker Pavilion,” says Dallas Schwerdt. “Not only will the public have increased access to the arena, they will also have opportunities to enhance their equine related skills. Along with regular lessons being offered, SPH is planning various clinics in multiple disciplines and anticipate a number of events coming to the Hawker Pavilion. We look forward to offering a facility to the public that is both welcoming and professionally run.”
The Hawker Pavilion was constructed in 1986 and over the years has served the College and the surrounding Community as a superb educational facility and as an indoor riding facility. Over the past several years due to changes in program mix and funding, the facility has been used on a more limited basis. In May of 2013, GPRC asked for “Expressions of Interest” from community groups or individuals with equine industry expertise who were interested in partnering with GPRC to operate the Hawker Pavilion. GPRC evaluated the proposals against criteria established to ensure that both GPRC and Community needs would be met in the operation of the Riding Pavilion.
“GPRC is very pleased to have achieved this solution for the Hawker Pavilion and the community of Fairview,” says Don Gnatiuk, President and CEO. “We are excited by the plans that have been put forward by SPH, and exceptionally confident in their business expertise. This is a partnership which will greatly expand opportunities for the future.”
The goal is to better maximize facility use and even increase the ability to offer equine programming and events in the Community. The Schwerdts bring over 20 years of equine industry experience to the task; they currently operate an equine facility outside of Fairview and are the founders of the Black Gold Barrel Racing and Reining events. The Schwerdts, who also own and operate Swartzy Welding Services Ltd., bring a great deal of management and business related experience to the partnership.
Planned services to the community include: indoor and outdoor horse boarding; indoor public riding 8am-10pm daily; and indoor group riding. SPH is also planning on offering a host of clinics, lessons, and events.
The Schwerdts are looking forward to working with groups to host community events such as cattle and equine events of any discipline. Portable stalls and tents will be available for events, as well as a variety of equipment such as jump blocks, poles and barrels. SPH will also be working with GPRC to develop an outdoor arena to accommodate larger events and summer riding. And if you don’t have your own horse, that is still no problem! Community members who have not previously been able to ride as they haven’t owned horses will be able to take lessons on SPH-owned lesson horses.
Some renovations to the facility will be undertaken in early October, and SPH is looking forward to hosting visitors at an open house in the near future. For bookings or more information, please contact Dallas Schwerdt at 780-814-1729 or check out the SPH website at www. swartzyhorses.com.
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