March 01, 2008 - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
The recycling and landfill conservation efforts of Saskatoon's Habitat for Humanity ReStore and Recycling Centre received a boost today through a $940,000 investment from the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan and the City of Saskatoon. The funding is being provided through the tripartite Saskatoon Urban Development Agreement (UDA) and will enable the Centre to relocate and expand its retail operations.
The Centre will move from its current location on Avenue L South and 17th Street West to the former Hub City Curling Rink at the corner of Avenue D South and 21st Street West. With new employment opportunities created, the expanded ReStore and Recycling Centre supports the UDA's objective to create a positive business climate and increase the competitiveness of Saskatoon's core neighbourhoods, including Riversdale.
"Municipalities are all looking for innovative ways to deal with problems of waste management and encouraging economic development, and this project helps to do both," Municipal Affairs Minister Bill Hutchinson said. "This is another great example of how federal, provincial and municipal governments can work together, this time with the non-profit sector to improve our environment and our economy."
"The expanded ReStore and Recycling Centre will significantly reduce waste going to the landfill," said the Honourable Carol Skelton, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. "The Government of Canada is pleased to partner with the Province of Saskatchewan, the City of Saskatoon and Habitat for Humanity on this project, which provides the community with more recycling options to protect the environment."
"We are proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity, as recycling and landfill conservation are very important for a sustainable city," said Mayor Donald Atchison. "In addition, the funds from the ReStore help Habitat for Humanity build affordable homes, so their efforts benefit our entire community in many significant ways."
The $940,000 UDA investment will be used to retrofit the former curling rink to current building standards for accessibility and fire protection systems, renovate office spaces, purchase and install shelving, and pave the adjacent parking lot. The new retail facility will have about triple the amount of storage and administration space as the existing space does and is expected to increase sales of recycled building materials. Saskatoon's Habitat for Humanity will contribute $180,000 to the project, which will cost approximately $1.12 million.
In addition to the renovations at the new site, the existing site will be converted to accommodate significantly more recycling opportunities. Habitat for Humanity has formed partnerships with the Saskatoon Landfill and Regional Waste Management Association, the University of Saskatchewan and private industry to significantly reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill. An additional 100 tonnes of waste is projected to be diverted from the Saskatoon landfill this year alone.
"Habitat for Humanity Saskatoon is very grateful to the federal, provincial and municipal, governments for their financial assistance. Their funding will help see major improvements to the new Avenue D ReStore and the development of recycling facilities at the Avenue L location for materials that are not presently recycled in Saskatoon," said Tony Finn, chairman of Habitat's board of directors. "The recycling activities at these locations will divert an estimated 500 tonnes of materials from the landfill and will be a source of long term funding of our work in building affordable homes for low income working families in Saskatoon."
The five-year Saskatoon UDA, signed by the Governments of Canada, Saskatchewan and the City of Saskatoon in 2005, will invest $10 million in revitalizing the city's older neighbourhoods, supporting a high standard of public infrastructure and promoting a positive business climate that attracts innovation.
Western Economic Diversification Canada is the federal department responsible for administering this agreement in conjunction with the Saskatchewan Government's Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
For additional information, contact:
Joanne Mysak
Manager, Communications, Marketing
& Consultations
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 975-5942
Toll Free: 1-800-338-9378
Greg Urbanoski
Communications Branch
Ministry of Municipal Affairs
Regina, Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 787-2155
Cell: (306) 535-1243
Jill Cope
Communications Manager
City of Saskatoon
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 975-3461
Ian MacLennan
Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 343-7715
WD Toll-Free Number :1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Web Site : WD is online at
www.wd-deo.gc.ca .
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Renovations to former Hub City Curling Rink
- Phase I - retrofit to municipal building standards:$150,000
- Phase 2 - retrofit to municipal electrical standards:$110,000
- Phase 3 - renovations and upgrades to ReStore space: $460,000
- Phase 4 - renovations to office space:$160,000
Subtotal $880,000
Renovations to existing Avenue L building
- Phase 5 $240,000
TOTAL $1,120,000
Phase 1 building standard improvements: a fire alarm system, fire protection sprinklers, wheelchair accessible ramps from lobby to ice surface and from street to lobby, wheelchair accessible washrooms, repairs to fire rated drywall in basement, new entry/exit doors, and access to roof top unit.
Phase 2 electrical improvements: replace furnaces, replace roof top unit complete with walkway and replace electrical service.
Phase 3 ReStore renovations: New entrance (north end) with wheel chair electric door, new heaters over ice surface, fence, landscape and pave parking lot, demising wall parallel to east wall, develop mezzanine, new lighting over ice surface, new electrical panels, purchase two new tills, new shelving, security system with camera, and equipment washing station.
Phase 4 office space renovations: energy efficient furnaces, small plunge elevator, fire extinguishers, install new windows, and office development.
Phase 5 Avenue L upgrades: new entrance (south end), wheelchair accessible ramp and washrooms, replace furnace, fence and landscape site, pave entry/exit to drop off zone, install additional shelving, security system with camera, and office development.
Tonnes of Waste Diverted from Landfill
1996 - 2007 (estimated) 1500 tonnes
2008 - 2010 (projected) 2100 tonnes
