Quebec, Quebec, January 11, 2010 – Collège François-Xavier-Garneau will soon have a new illuminated synthetic soccer and football field, today jointly announced the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister for La Francophonie and the minister responsible for the Québec region, acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, and Dr. Yves Bolduc, Quebec Minister of Health and Social Services and Member of the National Assembly for Jean-Talon, acting on behalf of Michelle Courchesne, Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports.
Requiring an overall investment of $4,443,545, this project will benefit from $1,156,823 in funding from the Government of Quebec and $1,000,000 from the Government of Canada, with the Fondation du Collège François-Xavier-Garneau supplying the remainder of the financing.
The growing popularity of soccer and football has led to an increase in demand for field time. The project announced today will address this need by creating access to a synthetic field for the practice of soccer, football and rugby, and installing a lighting system and stands to seat up to 2,000 spectators. Lit artificial fields, in addition to being extremely safe, offer triple the playing time of conventional surfaces.
“This sports infrastructure project we are announcing today is excellent news for citizens and their quality of life. The Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program put in place by our government earmarks $500 million over two years for the modernization of sports and recreational facilities across the country. I am proud that this $1 million investment by the Government of Canada will benefit the citizens of the Québec region,” stated Minister Verner.
“I am delighted to see this project carried out in that it comes in direct response to a real local need. The Collège François-Xavier-Garneau Élans will soon have access to a modern facility that will enable them to develop to their full potential. With this new synthetic surface, they are being given an additional tool to help them continue showcasing their talents throughout Quebec,” explained Minister Bolduc.
“This announcement will undoubtedly further the development and vitality of our campus. We are pleased to finally be able to provide our soccer, football and rugby teams with facilities that are not only equal to their performance, but that will also allow them to hold their practice sessions on site and thereby better reconcile sports training and academic success,” added the college’s director general, Yves Blouin.
The governments of Canada and Quebec signed an agreement to accelerate the execution of recreational infrastructure projects in Quebec over the next two years. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $37.4 million and the Government of Quebec at least that amount in recreational infrastructure projects carried out in cost-sharing partnership with municipal administrations or local organizations. These investments are thus expected to generate greater financial leverage, as is 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 Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l’activité physique and through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program.
About the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program
Established under the economic action plan adopted by the federal government last January, the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program is aimed at stimulating immediate economic recovery and reducing 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.gc.ca.
About the Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l’activité physique
The Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l’activité physique was created by the Government of Quebec to ensure all of the province’s regions access to new and improved sports facilities in order to promote healthier lifestyles among their populations. For further details on this initiative, visit http://www.mels.gouv.qc.ca.
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Sources:
Tamara Davis
Press Secretary
Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports
Tel.: 418-644-0664
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
Rébecca Salesse
Special Communications Assistant
Office of the Honourable Josée Verner
Tel.: 418-648-3425
Karine Rivard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Health and Social Services
Tel.: 418-266-7171
