A fundraising kickoff to fund the new Emerson golf course clubhouse took place Friday morning with lots of support.

The new nine-hole golf course located on the northeast corner of the community is now protected by the Emerson Dike and is just about complete. However, work on building a clubhouse is still a work in progress. The project has a price tag of $200,000, which is why the local golf course building committee is making one more big push for funds to complete the project.

Emerson Duty-Free Vice President Simon Resch was at Friday's fundraiser kickoff to show the company's support for the project.

"It's important to participate in this wonderful community effort. This entire development for the town is a volunteer effort from the community and Duty-Free is thrilled to be a part of it, which is why we are donating $25,000 today to this project."

Access Credit Union has also committed funds to the clubhouse project. Community Coordinator Emily Suderman said contributing to this project was an easy decision for the financial institution.

"The amount of community support we have seen for this project is just amazing, so we are so excited to be a part of it and cannot wait to see the finished project. We are donating $10,000 today."

The new Clubhouse will incorporate the community's diverse history as an exact replica of the first Canadian Pacific Railway Station. The first CPR railway depot in Emerson was built in 1879 and was destroyed by fire in May 1885. The present one-storey building was constructed in 1914 at a cost of $9,000. The original plan was to save costs and to reuse the current station that was gifted to the Municipality from CPR for this project. However, the building has deteriorated to the point where it cannot be fixed up to meet current building code.

Emerson Milling President Real Tetrault was at Friday's kickoff and he says they have decided to also donate $25,000 to the project.

"It's a project that has been underway for a number of years now, we have the clubhouse to build yet but the course is ready and we are ready to get out on the green. As a company, we are proud to be a sponsor for the clubhouse."

The building of the course up to this point has been completed by the golf course building committee and numerous area volunteers. Funding has come from government grants, area residents, and businesses and has seen a lot of support. Committee Chair Wayne Arseny noted that Friday's kickoff had some big key donations.

"Emerson Milling, Duty-Free, Access Cu and Brenda Lang with family made a donation today, so it's been a significant contribution day. This is the opening of our kickoff for fundraising where everyone can get involved, these are tax deductible donations. We have had some major contributors to this project so far like JKW donating equipment use, Dennis Froom from Border Ridge Trucking and much more we cannot name them all, but they will all be recognized on our donor wall," explained Arseny

Arseny added it's not only a clubhouse being built, it's an attraction that will be a tourism destination for Emerson and an employment opportunity. Currently, the building committee is waiting for the ground to thaw completely to get started on the Clubhouse and has high hopes to offer golf in some capacity later this year, with plans to hold a grand opening once the clubhouse is complete in 2018.