August 25, 2008 - Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon residents and the surrounding communities will be able to enjoy a new recreation facility, thanks to joint infrastructure funding from the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Brandon and Brandon Family YMCA. Funding of $6.9 million is being provided to build a family-friendly leisure centre at the present location of the YMCA in downtown Brandon through the Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF), which consists of equal contributions from the two levels of government and the proponent. The Province of Manitoba is contributing a further $1.7 million to this project through the Building Manitoba Fund.
The announcement was made today by the Honourable Gary Doer, Premier of Manitoba, and the Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, 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.
"We are pleased to support this project that will help further boost Brandon's revitalization and fits with Manitoba's Green Building Policy, meeting the silver standard in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building standards," said Premier Doer. "The people of Brandon will truly benefit from new health, fitness and recreation opportunities that are such important aspects of a healthy lifestyle."
"The Government of Canada is proud to work in partnership with other levels of government and stakeholders to provide communities such as Brandon with access to healthy lifestyles and leisure activities through long-term infrastructure," said Minister Toews. "This new facility will give Brandon residents and surrounding communities access to a multitude of recreational activities that will help build stronger communities through active living."
The City of Brandon and the Brandon Family YMCA have partnered to build the new facility, which will include: a six-lane competitive swimming pool; a leisure pool with waterslide; hot tubs; fully accessible change rooms; a fitness centre; multi-purpose rooms; a studio; gymnasium, a children's daycare space; and a teen zone. The facility will be built adjacent to Princess Park and will be part of a two-and-a-half block multi-use recreation space in downtown Brandon. The environmentally friendly facility will serve about 11,000 people annually.
"The City of Brandon is pleased to contribute $5 million to the new YMCA project, said Dave Burgess, Mayor of the City of Brandon. "I feel this will be a great enhancement of recreation and leisure activities to our entire community. This new project will also contribute significantly to the revitalization of downtown Brandon."
"The Brandon Family YMCA is extremely pleased to accept the Canada-Manitoba infrastructure funding," said Trent Sholdice, Chair of the Brandon YMCA. "Our board of directors, CEO Lon Cullen and YMCA staff are committed to providing our community with access to a new facility and programs that will continue our mission of building strong kids, strong families and a stronger community. The funding announcement reconfirms community partnerships as the most sensible model and allows the YMCA to make a giant leap toward our goal of a new facility."
Through MRIF, federal, provincial and local partners are providing matching contributions for a total investment of $145 million to help communities meet their pressing infrastructure needs. Of the funds, 80 per cent are earmarked for communities with a population of less than 250,000 people, including 198 municipalities and 50 unincorporated Northern Community Councils in rural and northern Manitoba. The remaining 20 per cent of the funds are for projects in Winnipeg.
The Building Manitoba Fund is a unique income and fuel tax-sharing program through which municipalities receive a share of provincial tax revenues that grow with the economy to support their infrastructure and service delivery needs. In 2008, Manitoba municipalities will receive $143 million for roads, transit, public safety and other municipal infrastructure and service priorities through the Building Manitoba Fund.
More information on Canada and Manitoba infrastructure projects are available at: www.infrastructure.gc.ca and www.infrastructure.mb.ca.
For more information, contact:
Pierre Floréa
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada,
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification
613-943-1838
John Thorpe, Communications Coordinator
Government of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-4997
MB Government Website: www.gov.mb.ca
