Sainte-Thècle, Quebec, August 28, 2009 – Major development work will be carried out at Parc Saint-Jean-Optimiste, in Sainte-Thècle. The announcement was made today by Julie Boulet, Ministre des Transports and Ministre responsable de la région de la Mauricie, acting on behalf of Michelle Courchesne, Ministre de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport. This work will require an overall investment of $250,481. The municipality of Sainte-Thècle, the Caisse populaire de Sainte-Thècle–Saint-Adelphe and the Mékinac Regional County Municipality will assume a major portion of the costs, namely, $150,481 and the federal and provincial governments will each contribute $50,000 toward the work, for a total of $100,000 in combined government funding.
Redevelopment of the municipal park will primarily involve the construction of a community centre near a new outdoor skating rink, ice skating trails and a winter slide. The project will also include the construction of an outdoor area for skateboard enthusiasts and the installation of swings for children. A new lighting system will be installed throughout the park.
Ms. Boulet described the Sainte-Thècle project in the following terms: “The new park will offer both summer and winter activities. The plan is to begin by building the community centre where skaters can lace up and get warm. As well, a new skating rink and skating trails will be developed. The younger set will be happy to learn that, come winter, they will have a slide to play on. In summer, the skateboarders will have a field day in their own skateboarding park. Park facilities will include playground equipment and swings for children. Another plus is that a new lighting system will make the park accessible in the evening hours.”
“Many of our recreational facilities are outdated and need to be renovated. In a recessionary period like the one we are experiencing, most municipalities are just not in a position to make that kind of an investment. That is why the federal government adopted the Recreational Infrastructure Program which will invest $500 million over two years in modernizing our sports facilities across the country. I am delighted that the project announced today will be carried out because it will help raise the quality of life of Sainte-Thècle residents,” explained Mr. Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development.
The governments of Canada and Quebec recently signed an agreement to accelerate the execution of recreational infrastructure projects in Quebec over the next two years. To that end, each level of government will invest $37.4 million in recreational infrastructure projects carried out in cost-sharing partnership with municipal administrations or local organizations. Theses investments are thus expected to generate greater financial leverage, as in the case with the other infrastructure programs.
The funding announced today has been awarded through the Programme de soutien aux installations sportives et récréatives of the Government of Quebec’s Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l’activité physique, and through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program.
The Recreational Infrastructure Program, part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, is intended to stimulate immediate economic recovery and reduce the short-term impacts of the global recession. Government investment in this area will help create new jobs and improve the population’s health and quality of life. For more on this plan, see www.actionplan.ca.
The Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l'activité physique was established by the Government of Quebec to ensure the province's regions better access to new and improved sports facilities in order to promote healthier lifestyles among their populations. For further details on this program, visit: http://www.mels.gouv.qc.ca/sections/fondDeveloppement/.
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Sources:
Kim Ledoux
Press Secretary
Ministre de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport
Tel.: 418-644-0664
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
E-mail: simon.bachand@dec-ced.gc.ca
Jolyanne Pronovost
Press Secretary
Ministre des Transports
Tel.: 418-643-6980
