February 24, 2011
North Vancouver, British Columbia
Today the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification (WD), accompanied by Andrew Saxton, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver, toured construction underway at Windsor Secondary School's new track and the North Shore Girls Soccer Club's enclosed training facility.
"Once complete, these new and improved recreational amenities will ensure that local residents and athletes have access to the modern and essential infrastructure they need today and in the future," said Minister Yelich. " It is exciting to see that work is underway in communities like North Vancouver, and that our Government's Economic Action Plan is creating jobs for Canadians."
WD has committed more than $602,000 for School District #44 to construct a six-lane asphalt track at Windsor Secondary School Park. The track project, along with new washroom facilities and an artificial turf, also received nearly $2.2 million in federal-provincial funding through the Building Canada Fund-Communities Component Top-Up. Adjacent to the school, WD provided funding of almost $767,000 for the North Shore Girls Soccer Club to build the "Bubble," an air-supported, indoor soccer training facility, the first of its kind in the area.
"These projects again highlight the power of partnerships," said Andrew Saxton, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver. "Our government and North Shore organizations are coming together to put shovels in the ground, support the local economy, and leave lasting recreational legacies for our communities."
"As a mother with three children in soccer who have either graduated from Windsor Secondary or will be entering next year, I have firsthand experience of the value these sports facilities bring our youth in North Vancouver Seymour," said North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Jane Thornthwaite.
Both projects are funded through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan. The RInC program is investing $500 million in recreational facilities across Canada over a two-year period. Visit the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program in the West, or Canada's Economic Action Plan for more information.
Recognizing that smaller communities have unique infrastructure needs, the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund supports projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 residents. Projects that address local infrastructure needs such as safe drinking water, disaster mitigation, and roads and bridges are eligible for funding through the program.
Under Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government has expanded upon the $1 billion Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund by providing an additional $500 million through the Communities Component Top-Up. Thanks to these investments, nearly 1,400 infrastructure projects across the country are now underway or completed.
For more information (media only), contact:
Jerra Byrne
Senior Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Minister of State Western Economic Diversification Canada
jerra.byrne@wd-deo.gc.ca
WD Toll-Free Number:1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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