Saint-Lambert, Quebec, June 28, 2011 – Acting on behalf of Line Beauchamp, Quebec Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Nicole Ménard, Member of the National Assembly for Laporte, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Montérégie region, today officially inaugurated a second artificial turf soccer-football field at the Saint-Lambert’s Seaway Park. The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, who was unable to attend the event, expressed his delight at the conclusion of this project.
“This project will benefit the community on many levels. The new artificial turf sports field at Saint-Lambert’s Seaway Park is sure to improve the quality of life of the municipality’s residents and students who use the facility to practice a multitude of sports,” commented Minister Lebel.
“The inauguration of this new field is great news for the region. Indeed, the number of young players registered with Saint-Lambert recreational leagues continues to grow, as have the requests for field use from educational institutions. Students from Durocher and Champlain colleges will of course be able to use the new playing field,” noted Minister Ménard.
The new field, equipped with a lighting system, a service building and bleachers, is located in the eastern section of the park and complements the field located in the western section, inaugurated in June 2010. The project was carried out thanks to $1,739,049 in government funding contributed in equal parts by the governments of Quebec and Canada, with the City of Saint-Lambert investing the remainder of the costs, estimated at more than $3.5 million. The government funding was awarded through the Government of Quebec’s Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l’activité physique and the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program.
There are a number of advantages to artificial turf fields, including a considerably longer playing season, more playing hours and lower turf maintenance costs, safer playing conditions and much greater durability. This new sports field will be used for soccer, football, touch-football, rugby and ultimate frisbee.
The two-year Canada-Quebec Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program Agreement was signed by the two levels of government to accelerate the execution of various recreational infrastructure projects in Quebec. Under this agreement, the Government of Canada has invested $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. These investments thus generate greater financial leverage, as is the case with the other infrastructure programs.
The economic action plan adopted by the federal government in January 2009, and under which the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program falls, has helped offset the impacts of the global economic downturn. Government investments have contributed to the creation of jobs and improved quality of life for Canadians. For more on this plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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.
- 30 -
Sources:
Esther Chouinard
Media Relations Manager
Department of Education, Recreation and Sports
Tel.: 418-528-2265, ext. 3144
André Poirier
Administrative Officer, Laporte riding office
Office of the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Montérégie region
Tel.: 450-672-1885
Benoît Fortin
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
E-mail: benoit.fortin@dec-ced.gc.ca
