Alma, Quebec, October 23, 2010 – Collège d'Alma's new artificial turf soccer-football field was officially inaugurated today in the presence of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture). Serge Simard, Quebec Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, who was unable to attend the event, expressed his delight at the completion of this project.
Necessitating an overall investment of $2,990,595, this project was carried out thanks to $1,409,575 in joint government funding, toward which the Government of Quebec contributed $704,788 and the Government of Canada $704,787. Collège d'Alma, for its part, invested the remaining $1,581,020, toward which the City of Alma contributed $800,000 and the Lac-Saint-Jean school board $200,000.
"This project will benefit the community on many levels. The new synthetic surface sports field at Collège d'Alma is sure to help improve the quality of life and academic success of students attending this school," noted Minister Blackburn.
"With the rising popularity of team sports like soccer and football, municipalities are faced with growing demand for access to playing surfaces. As the Minister responsible for this region, I am proud that our government has chosen to lend its support to this project of major importance to the population of Alma," commented Minister Simard.
The new installation will also include a lighting system, a shelter for commentators, bathroom facilities, a building with players' locker rooms and bleachers able to seat up to 1,000 spectators. Compared to natural grass surfaces, artificial turf fields with lighting are significantly safer and can be used in the evenings and over longer periods of the year.
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. Thus, these investments generate greater financial leverage, as is the case with the other infrastructure programs.
The funding for this project was awarded through the Government of Canada's Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program and 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.
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 www.mels.gouv.qc.ca.
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Sources:
Dave Leclerc
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports
Tel.: 418-644-0664
Danny Desbiens
Communications Advisor
Riding office of the MNA for Dubuc, Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Côte-Nord regions
Tel.: 418-544-8106
Benoît Fortin
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
