Welland, Ontario, June 4, 2011 – The Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton/Niagara held a ribbon-cutting event today to celebrate the completion of its new multiservice centre.
The Centre de santé, situated in the heart of Welland’s francophone community, now boasts 21,000 square feet and brings together, in collaboration with its new partner le Club Social, many services under one roof. Services offered by the Centre de santé and its partners include: social and cultural activities, a drop-in centre for seniors, immigration settlement services, as well as health services (primary care, health promotion and mental health). As part of the infrastructure project, the Centre de santé’s former building was demolished, and a new building was constructed with significant upgrades and additional space.
“Infrastructure projects are about so much more than roads and buildings,” said Rick Dykstra, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “This project demonstrates how infrastructure funding can help bring communities closer together to offer residents the services they need.”
“The Ontario government is pleased to see this dynamic complex come to life, as part of our Open Ontario plan to create local jobs and economic opportunities,” said Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure. “Our support for culture and access to key community services is ensuring that Welland will be vibrant and healthy for years to come.”
According to Marcel Castonguay, Executive Director of the Centre de santé, “This project, L’Escale, much needed by Welland’s Francophone community for several years, is meant to be the gathering point for Francophones from the region. For the first time, a community centre is offering, under one roof, a wide variety of social, cultural and community programs, as well as health services, to meet the needs of Niagara’s francophone community.”
The governments of Canada and Ontario each contributed $900,000 toward this project through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The Centre de santé contributed the remaining funding. The total eligible project cost is $2.7 million.
As part of the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund is funding more than 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country.
Since employment turned the corner in May 2009, Ontario has created nearly 300,000 jobs. This means Ontario has recovered all of the jobs lost during the recession. Ontario's stimulus investments contributed to this job recovery.
For additional information about investments in infrastructure, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.
For further information about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For more information on how Ontario is revitalizing its infrastructure, visit ontario.ca/infrastructure.
Contacts:
Vanessa Schneider
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Office of Minister Chiarelli
416-325-5270
Marcel Castonguay
Executive Director
Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton/Niagara
905-734-1141
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
Or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
