Saint-Adolphe-d'Howard, Quebec, May 10, 2010 – The Saint-Adolphe-d'Howard recreation centre will be renovated thanks to $240,914 in funding from the governments of Canada and Quebec, today jointly announced the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, and David Whissell, Member of the National Assembly for Argenteuil, acting on behalf of Michelle Courchesne, Quebec Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports.
The sums invested will be used to build bathroom facilities and a four-season skating rink, refit the tennis courts and renovate the community centre housing the gymnasium and three multipurpose halls. The Municipality of Saint-Adolphe-d'Howard will invest the remaining $245,446, for a total project cost of $483,360.
"Many of our recreational facilities are outdated and in need of renovation. But restoring public infrastructure entails costs that municipalities are unable to assume on their own. That is why the Government of Canada introduced the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program, through which $500 million will be invested over two years in the modernization of our sports and recreational facilities across the country. I am delighted to see this project come to fruition in that I know it will improve the quality of life of Saint-Adolphe-d'Howard residents," explained Minister of State Lebel.
Once paved, the skating rink surface will serve, outside of the winter season, for the practice of skateboarding, ball hockey and basketball. These renovations will help maximize use of the facilities, thereby leveraging the investments made by the two levels of government and the municipality.
"These investments will enable the municipality's residents to remain active and fit, which is precisely what we want for our population. Promoting a healthy lifestyle is at the very heart of our concerns. In contributing to initiatives like this one, we are showing further proof of that commitment," added David Whissell.
The governments of Canada and Quebec signed an agreement to accelerate the execution of recreational infrastructure projects in Quebec by March 31, 2011. To that end, the Government of Canada will invest $76 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 Government of Quebec's Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l'activité physique and through the Government of Canada's Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program.
About the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program
Established under the economic action plan adopted by the federal government in January 2009, 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
Office of the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports
Tel.: 418-644-0664
Mélanie Cayer
Political Attaché
Office of the MNA for Argenteuil
Tel.: 450-562-0785
Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
