The sought-after sponsorship opportunity for the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake's new Olympia ice resurfacer has been awarded to Lakeview Vineyard Equipment Inc.

he sponsorship will cost Lakeview $25,000 over 10 years.

Joe Pillitteri, owner of Lakeview Vineyard Equipment, said the last time a sponsorship opportunity came up his company was interested, but didn’t get it.

“We thought, 'Oh well, it will be forever before this comes up again.' But just like that, maybe five years later it became available.”

Pillitteri said Lakeview's philosophy has always been that its role in the community is as important as the bottom line. He said he is happy to be awarded the sponsorship because the company has customers in the arena every day.

“It's not just about customers. It’s about letting them know that we think minor hockey and minor sports and figure skating are important.”

“We’re really excited about the design. We wanted to integrate what we do for a living, which is sell and service grape harvesters. We’re really excited about what our design team put together.”

Pillitteri is keeping the design under wraps for now but said, “It’ll be unlike any resurfacer that’s ever been placed in a building anywhere.”

He said the company does business on some level with almost every winery and grape grower in the Niagara area. Lakeview has clients in the eastern part of North America as well, doing business in seven provinces and 22 states last year, he said.

“But our local presence, our base, is really strong. We get great support from all of our local customers. That allows us to reach out and create new relationships in other places.”

He said though the company enjoys a good market share, it has never taken its role in the community for granted, operating under the example companies like Simpson’s Pharmasave has set.

“When I look at some companies, especially the Simpson’s family, they do so much in so many areas. It’s a reminder for us to never rest in terms of what we can do for the community.”

Pillitteri said seeing the Simpson’s name on the old ice resurfacer for as long as he can remember, always thought that they probably didn’t need any additional exposure, they did it anyway.

“We kind of take the same approach when dealing with opportunities to strengthen our bond with the community.”

In the media release, the town thanked Niagara Trailers and Landscape Florida-Farr Drainage for their proposals and for everything they contribute to the community.