September 03, 2004 FORT SASKATCHEWAN, Alberta -- The new Dow Centennial Centre, a cultural and recreation facility in Fort Saskatchewan, received a boost of $3.2 million in tripartite funding through the Infrastructure Canada- Alberta Program (ICAP) to help put the finishing touches on this much-anticipated community centre. The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport), and the Honourable Ed Stelmach, Alberta Minister of Transportation, together with Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Ken Hodgins, today announced funding for this project to assist with building and energy efficiency enhancements, as well as the paving of the parking lot, landscaping and signage. The Government of Canada places a high priority on ensuring our rural and urban communities have access to cultural and recreational facilities which are, in turn, catalysts for economic growth ,¿ said Minister McLellan . ¿That¿s why we are pleased to support this project through the Infrastructure Canada-Alberta Program.¿ The Alberta Government is proud to partner in a development that contributes to a higher quality of life for everyone who lives in or visits Fort Saskatchewan,¿ said Minister Stelmach. ¿Projects like this help strengthen our communities and t hrough our partnership in ICAP, we can respond to the infrastructure priorities set by communities themselves.¿ The Dow Centennial Centre includes a 550-seat theatre, art gallery, pottery and visual arts studios, meeting and banquet rooms, ice arena, indoor soccer pitch, fitness area and walking/running track. On behalf of all Fort Saskatchewan residents, I want to thank the Governments of Canada and Alberta for this important contribution,¿ said Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Ken Hodgins. ¿The funding announced today shows the level of commitment our two senior levels of government have to the facility and to our community.¿ This project not only improves the community infrastructure by supporting Canadian culture and community access to recreational facilities, it also addresses ICAP¿s ¿green¿ objectives to improve energy efficiency of buildings and facilities owned by local governments. To date, 611 projects have been announced in Alberta under the program. With this project, ICAP has met its target of directing at least $508 million in federal, provincial and municipal funding toward municipal water and wastewater systems, municipal roads, bridges and transit, affordable housing, solid waste disposal and recycling, tourism, cultural or recreation facilities, or projects to improve energy efficiencies of municipal buildings. ICAP is a partnership between the federal, provincial and municipal governments, and in some cases, private-sector organizations. In Alberta, the program is implemented by Western Economic Diversification Canada and Alberta Transportation, and is administered by a joint secretariat. This project was nominated by the Government of Canada and approved under the Projects Nominated by Canada or Alberta component of ICAP. This partnership program leverages investments that build strong, sustainable communities and improve our quality of life. Under ICAP, the federal and provincial governments provide up to two-thirds of the funding for eligible costs. Partnering communities or private partners in the program provide the remaining one-third of project funding and any ineligible costs. The federal and provincial governments together will invest $1,999,996 toward the $3,209,994 announced today. The City of Fort Saskatchewan will invest $1,209,998. The ICAP Management Committee approves the projects and is composed of representatives from the Governments of Canada and Alberta, the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) and the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAMD&C). "The Infrastructure Canada-Alberta Program is a good example of a working partnership between all three levels of government," said Dorothy Moore on behalf of the AUMA. "The infrastructure needs of municipalities have never been greater. ICAP's versatile three-way partnership addresses infrastructure needs in all sizes of municipalities." ¿The funding support offered by ICAP allows our member municipalities to take on needed infrastructure improvements,¿ said Eugene Wauters on behalf of the AAMD&C. ¿Infrastructure is a high priority for municipal districts and counties.¿ The Infrastructure Canada-Alberta Program agreement was signed October 10, 2000. Federal funding for ICAP was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget. Note to news editors: Program fact sheet and Infrastructure Canada-Alberta project backgrounder are attached. For additional information, contact: Sherry Brownlee Communications Officer, Alberta Region Western Economic Diversification Canada Edmonton, Alberta Tel: (780) 495-8570 Toll-Free 1-888-338-9378 ICAP Web site: www.icap-pica.ca Brad Stromberg Communications Alberta Transportation Edmonton, Alberta Tel: (780) 422-0296 (In Alberta, dial 310-0000 for toll-free connection outside of Edmonton) Renée Gillen Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Western Economic Diversification Tel: (613) 954-1110 Infrastructure Canada-Alberta Program Alberta Fact Sheet Partnership Program The Infrastructure Canada-Alberta Program (ICAP) is a partnership involving federal, provincial and municipal governments that also allows for private-sector participation. All three levels of government played an important part in the design of this program. In general, each level of government (federal, provincial and municipal) contributes one-third of the total eligible costs of any given project. For the 611 projects and $508 million approved since June 8, 2001, federal and provincial contributions total aproximately $286 million. In Alberta, the program is implemented by Western Economic Diversification Canada and Alberta Transportation, and administered by a joint secretariat. Grassroots Driven ICAP is designed with a bottom-up approach. Accordingly, municipalities play an important role in the program. The majority of projects will address local infrastructure needs identified by the municipalities. This project was nominated by the Government of Canada and approved under the Projects Nominated by Canada or Alberta component of ICAP. This provision in the agreement allows the Government of Canada and the Alberta Government to nominate specific municipal infrastructure projects to the ICAP Management Committee. This ensures that projects of strategic importance to the federal and provincial governments or those regional projects involving more than one municipality are given a high priority. Program Priorities ICAP¿s first priority is ¿green¿ municipal infrastructure. Green infrastructure includes: projects related to water and wastewater systems, water management, solid waste management and recycling, and capital expenditures to retrofit or improve the energy efficiency of buildings and facilities owned by local municipalities. The ICAP agreement specifies that a minimum 40 per cent of the total value of all approved projects must be invested in green municipal infrastructure. Secondary priorities include: local transportation, cultural and recreational facilities, infrastructure supporting tourism, rural and remote telecommunications, high-speed Internet access for local public institutions and affordable housing. To ensure the infrastructure needs of rural communities are considered, a minimum 26 per cent of total approved costs for all projects in Alberta must be invested in projects proposed by rural municipalities. Infrastructure Canada-Alberta Program Backgrounder Fort Saskatchewan ¿ Dow Centennial Centre Project Details Scope of Project This project involves building and energy efficiency enhancements, as well as the paving of the parking lot, landscaping and signage. The Dow Centennial Centre, at 154,600 square feet, includes a 550-seat theatre, art gallery, pottery and visual arts studios, meeting and banquet rooms, gymnasium, ice arena, indoor soccer pitch, fitness area and jogging track, as well as a child care facility and indoor climbing wall. Project Benefits Fort Saskatchewan currently has no theatre or indoor soccer pitch, and limited meeting space. The two existing arenas are unable to keep up with the demand for ice time, and other cultural and sporting groups are scattered throughout the city. The Dow Centennial Centre brings many cultural groups together under one roof, and greatly enhances the recreational facilities available to the residents of Fort Saskatchewan and surrounding communities. The facility is expected to serve approximately 438,000 visitors annually, and attract many events that the city has otherwise been unable to accommodate. The building improvements will allow for improved wheelchair access throughout the facility, as well as improve the energy efficiency of the facility. Outdoor enhancements will ensure a safe parking lot for users and allow the City of Fort Saskatchewan to landscape the area, and add signage. Contact for further information on the Dow Centennial Centre: John de Bruijn Director, Community Services City of Fort Saskatchewan Tel: (780) 992-6203
