The Government of Canada is helping Valemount revitalize their downtown core, thanks to an investment through Western Economic Diversification Canada.
Federal funding of $600,000 was announced today by Betty Hinton, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veteran Affairs and Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, 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, and the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources. The funding is provided through the Community Economic Diversification Initiative (CEDI), a component of the Federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program.
"This investment will improve Valemount's tourism opportunities by profiling and strengthening its downtown core," said Hinton. "This investment will mean improved stormwater drainage works and street beautification for Valemount."
"The projects announced today are an example of how the Government of Canada is addressing the needs of communities affected by the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation," said Minister Lunn. "Through this support, our government is helping impacted communities turn challenges into economic opportunities."
Funding will help the Village of Valemount hire consultants to conduct the engineering, planning and project management necessary to revitalize 5th Avenue between Cedar and Dogwood streets. The revitalization will consist of removing, and repaving roads and sidewalks, improving the storm-water drainage works and street beautification.
"The Downtown Revitalization Project creates the right conditions to stimulate interest in Valemount", said Mayor Jeannette Townsend. "With the assistance of the Government of Canada, the Village can implement a strategic objective that gives a clear signal to local businesses and relocating entrepreneurs that Valemount is actively changing from a one-industry-town to a mountain resort community with a mixed and diversified economy."
Managed by Western Economic Diversification Canada, CEDI will invest more than $33 million over two years in communities most at risk from the Pine Beetle infestation. The program supports a wide range of projects that further economic growth, job creation and future community sustainability.
The CEDI program is part of the Government of Canada's $200 million comprehensive response to mitigate the short-term and long-term effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation on B.C.'s forestry sector. This Federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program is led by Natural Resources Canada, in collaboration with Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and Transport Canada.
Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy as well as to represent the interests of the West in national decision-making.
For more information on the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program, please visit: http://mpb.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications_e.html
For additional information, contact:
Catherine Brown
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Tel: (604) 666-1306
Cell: (604) 764-9381
Mr. Silvio Gislimberti
Economic Development Officer
Village of Valemount
Ph: 250-566-4435
Email: edc@valemount.com
