By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Macleod Gazette Arenas, pitches, ball diamonds and trails help keep Albertans and their communities healthy and vibrant, a cabinet minister said in touting a topped-up initiative that contributes dollars to sports and recreation projects. Andrew Boitchenko said that curling rinks, pickleball courts and other sports-and-rec infrastructure tie strongly to physical and mental well-being across the province. Approvals worth an extra $5 million pushed grants under the Active Communities Initiative to $14 million this year. But enough demand exists for even greater provincial participation, said Boitchenko, the minister of tourism and sport and the UCP member for Drayton Valley-Devon. “I was happy to hear we were getting the top-up because we’re oversubscribed,” Boitchenko told The Macleod Gazette. The bump is a one-timer, but…







