New Opportunities for Play at Queens County Fair
News Release
Government of Canada supports physical activity initiatives in Caledonia
Tuesday, July 26, 2016 – Caledonia, N.S. – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
The Queens County Fair Association is upgrading the fairground playground thanks to support from the Government of Canada. A $10,000 non-repayable contribution through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program (CIP150) will help to install equipment that will appeal to a larger age range of children in the area.
For five days starting on the third Tuesday of September, approximately 5,000 people from near and far gather after harvest at the Queens Country Fair in Caledonia to see agricultural exhibits from all over Nova Scotia. This year, from September 20-24, 2016, the Queens County Fair will be celebrating its 136th anniversary with its ever popular horse and ox pulls as well as live entertainment, among other attractions. Nearly 150 years after its founding, event organizers like the event to be recognized “as a genuine agriculture fair”.
The current playground at the Queens County Fair is inadequate as it only caters to very young children and often has to be repaired after bad weather. The new playground, slated to be completed by the end of August, will be safer and more appealing to a larger age range of children and much easier to maintain once installed. The upgrades to the playground include the excavation of the grounds to accommodate three large and four small pieces of playground equipment, pouring concrete bases, applying ground cover material and pea gravel, as well as general landscaping to the area. The Association is providing $25,000 in-kind to the project toward playground equipment and some pea gravel. These improvements will allow for increased usage of the site during events as well as by the general public on a daily basis.
The CIP150 is providing up to $300 million nationally over two years to support projects to rehabilitate, renovate and expand community and recreational infrastructure as part of the Government of Canada’s activities to honour Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation. The program is expected to boost economic activity through infrastructure investments, build community-based partnerships, while supporting the Government’s priorities to promote a clean-growth economy and ensure a better future for Indigenous peoples.
Quotes
“Regionally significant infrastructure projects, such as this one, increase the desirability for families to stay in a rural area, setting down roots. The Queens County Agricultural Fair promotes a healthy lifestyle through many of its exhibits and local produce. The improved playground will provide one more way for children to have fun while being physically active, continuing the Fair’s legacy of promoting outdoor activities.
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
“Not only is the Queens County fair a community events venue, it is also an economic stimulus for the area. A new, more functional playground will help to bring families to the fairgrounds for events as well as time spent together outdoors. While the improvements provide a safe recreation space for residents and visitors, they help secure the tradition of the Queens County Fair as a community hub.
- Bernadette Jordan, Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margarets
"We appreciate the opportunity to once again be working with ACOA and the Canada 150 fund, which makes it possible for the Queens County Fair Association to provide much needed recreational spaces for the North Queens Area. The youth visiting the grounds have enjoyed the small area we have been able to offer and I am sure they will enjoy the new space much more."
- Elliot Payzant, President, Queens County Fair Association
Associated Links
Queens County Fair Website
Atlantic Growth Strategy
Contacts
Alex Smith
Director of Communications and Outreach
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(902) 426-9417
(902) 830-3839 (cell)
Email: alex.smith@canada.ca
Doreen Holdright
Secretary Manager, Queens County Fair Association
(902) 251-8066 (cell)
Email: doreenh@eastlink.ca
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