Residents of the Saint John area and students of the Forest Hills School received good news today as federal and provincial governments announced funding of more than $590,000 for upgraded recreational facilities.
The announcement was made today by Rodney Weston, MP for Saint John, on behalf of the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway and Roly MacIntyre, MLA for Saint John-East on behalf of Business New Brunswick Minister Victor Boudreau, who is also Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation.
"The Economic Action Plan is making a real difference in the communities of New Brunswick," said MP Weston. "Through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) Program, we are proud to invest more than $155,000 to restore the Forest Hills School playing fields. This project will generate additional local economic activity, create jobs during the construction phase and ensure that the students and area residents enjoy quality recreational infrastructure for years to come."
"The Province of New Brunswick is proud to invest in this important community infrastructure project for Forest Hills School and the City of Saint John," said MacIntyre. "Ensuring that we have good recreational facilities helps improve our quality of life, strengthens our communities, and helps us toward our goal of self- sufficiency,"
"It is important for schools and communities to have appropriate sports fields for students and teams to play on," said Christopher Toole, Director Finance and Administration at the School District 8. "The refurbishment of the Forest Hills field will not only be a great benefit to our students but will also provide an additional play space to the greater Saint John community which has an ever growing need for quality play fields."
This project consists of reconstructing the sports fields at the school and the immediate surrounding area through excavation of old wood beams and posts. Following excavation, suitable soils will be placed and the finished playing surfaces restored for the school and for the wider community.
The Government of Canada will contribute $157,730 in the project through the RInC program, a key economic stimulus initiative under Canada's Economic Action Plan while the Province of New Brunswick is investing $437,000 through the Regional Development Corporation.
Canada's Economic Action Plan is providing $500 million over two years for the RInC program to support the upgrading and renewal of recreational facilities in communities across the country. Projects are selected on the basis of merit and construction readiness, and must be completed before March 31, 2011. RInC program is delivered in Atlantic Canada by ACOA.
For information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Federal and provincial governements announced an investment of more than $590,000 for the reconstruction of the sports fields at the Forest Hills School in Saint John. MP Rodney Weston, on behalf of the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway and Roly McIntyre MLA for Saint John East on behalf of on behalf of Business New Brunswick Minister Victor Boudreau, who is also Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation made the announcement today.
A total of $500 million over two years has been set aside through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program to support upgrades and repairs to recreational facilities in communities across the country. The RInC program is a key economic stimulus initiative under the federal Economic Action Plan. The program is delivered in Atlantic Canada by ACOA.
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INFORMATION:
Chris Toole
Director, Finance and Administration
District Education Council – Forest Hills School
506-658-5300
Peggy Bélanger
A/Senior Communications Officer
ACOA NB
506-452-2466
Bruce Macfarlane
Regional Development Corporation
506-444-4606
