20 December 2010
ABRAM VILLAGE , Prince Edward Island
Christmas has come early this year for the Evangeline region. Thanks to a combined investment by the federal and provincial governments of almost $3.2 million, the Evangeline Multi-Generational Sports Facility will be rebuilt after a devastating fire on April 11, 2010.
“With an investment of almost $1.6 million, our government is pleased to partner with the provincial government and the Evangeline Recreation Commission to support the construction of this new sports facility,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. “Facilities like this centre provide social, physical and economic benefits to a community that enriches the quality of life enjoyed by area residents.”
Evangeline is among the many rural communities across Prince Edward Island to have received funding from the Building Canada Fund infrastructure program. The Communities Component focuses on projects in communities with populations of less than 100,000 – helping these small communities respond to their unique challenges.
“This new facility will be a tremendous benefit to the health and well being of the Acadian community, and the province’s $1.6 million investment will serve as a fine example of our government’s commitment to rural Prince Edward Island” said Premier Robert Ghiz. “But beyond that, this project shows that great things are possible when communities come together and rally toward a common goal.”
The Government of Canada through the Building Canada Fund Communities Component and the Recreational Infrastructure Fund Canada is investing almost $1.6 million in this project. The Province of Prince Edward Island, through Build PEI and the Island Community Fund is investing an additional $1.6 million. The Evangeline Recreation Commission will contribute $2 million to rebuild the facility.
"The new rink and recreation facility to be built on the same site as the former Evangeline Recreation Center is a testimony of a community rallying behind a common goal and determined to achieve that goal,” said Guy Arsenault, President of the Evangeline Recreation Commission. “The community will once again have a facility that will offer much needed activities to all residents. We are tremendously grateful to all for their important contribution towards the construction of our new facility."
The new sport facility will house an NHL-sized ice surface and related dressing rooms, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, administration offices and a hospitality centre. The building will also integrate the use of environmentally friendly components to help reduce heating and electrical costs. Construction on the new facility is scheduled to begin on March 1, 2011, with completion in the Fall of 2011.
For more information on the Building Canada Fund, visit http://www.buildingcanada.gc.ca or http://gov.pe.ca/go/infrastructure.
For more information on capital projects on Prince Edward Island visit www.buildpei.ca.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Christmas has come early this year for the Evangeline region. Thanks to investments made by the federal and provincial governments, the Evangeline Multi-Generational Sports Facility located in Abram Village will be rebuilt after a devastating fire destroyed the building in April of this year.
Federal fisheries Minister Gail Shea, Premier Ghiz and Guy Arsenault from the Evangeline Recreation Commission were on hand today to announce a combined federal and provincial investment of almost $3.2 million to help build the new facility.
-30-
INFORMATION:
Cindy Roy
ACOA PEI & Tourism
(902) 566-7569
Andrew Sprague
PEI Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
(902) 368-5112
