Calgary, Alberta, July 1, 2011 — Hundreds of Canadians came out to celebrate Canada Day and became the first to visit the new home of Canada's Sport’s Hall of Fame (CSHoF) in Calgary, a city recognized worldwide as a centre of sport excellence since hosting the 1988 Olympic Winter Games.
In a ceremony at CSHoF’s spectacular 40,000-square foot building, located on the west side of Canada Olympic Park, Rob Anders, Member of Parliament for Calgary West, Lindsay Blackett, Alberta’s Minister of Culture and Community Spirit, and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi joined Honoured Members of the CSHoF, and passionate Canadians to officially open the doors to the $30 million facility. The new centre showcases 58 sports and 514 Honoured Members.
"Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame’s mission is to promote the importance of sport to Canadian families and communities by sharing the compelling stories of our outstanding achievements in Canadian sport,” said Claire Buffone-Blair, president and chief executive officer of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. "The City of Calgary and Province of Alberta have welcomed us with open arms, and we, in turn, look forward to welcoming and inspiring visitors from across Canada and around the world as we showcase our nation's sport legends and iconic and treasured artifacts."
All three levels of government funded the construction of the facility in Calgary. The Government of Canada has committed $15 million through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The Province of Alberta has provided $10 million and the City of Calgary also provided close to $5 million. WinSport Canada made land available at Canada Olympic Park in order to make opening of the new facility possible.
“The Government of Canada is proud to be part of this wonderful project to celebrate Canada’s sports accomplishments and its athletes,” said Rob Anders, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “Through our Economic Action Plan and projects such as these, we are delivering concrete results.”
“The Government of Alberta is pleased and proud to support this wonderful project,” said Lindsay Blackett, Alberta’s Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. “Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is an exciting new facility for Calgary to tell the stories of our rich sporting history, building on the legacy of the 1988 Olympics and connecting that legacy to the training of present and future champions.”
“I can’t express how thrilled we are as Calgarians for this city to be the new home for this national institution,“ said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “The City is proud to be a partner with the other levels of government in building a fantastic new facility right here in Calgary.”
In addition to government funding, corporate and community partners have helped round out the financial resources needed for CSHoF to operate and create dynamic programs that will inspire.
About CSHoF
Housing more than 50 interactive displays, 15,000 artifacts, 11 galleries, a 120-seat theatre, and an Education and Resource Centre, CSHoF is expected to draw tourism to the city as well as its share of local visitors. CSHoF is available to rent for family, social, and business functions. A visit to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame ranges in price from $8 (youth) - $12 (general admission), with complimentary admission to children under four. Hours of operation are Tuesday–Thursday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Athletes and stories illustrated in CSHoF galleries include: Jacques Villeneuve’s Formula One race car; Terry Fox’s shoe which he dipped in the Atlantic Ocean to begin his Marathon of Hope; and memorabilia from many of Canada’s greatest Olympic moments. Other highlights include a wide range of interactive exhibits from sports such as hockey, ski jumping, boxing and rowing. All 514 Honoured Members are featured in the Grand Hall with an impressive glass tribute and informative interactive stations.
Special Exhibits
Visitors to CSHoF between now and September can also get an up-close view of the medals presented to Olympic and Paralympic podium-finishers at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games thanks to a special loan from the Royal Canadian Mint, which crafted these spectacular athlete medals. The Changing Gallery will show an exhibit of Gordon Milne`s trademark paintings from his Canadian Sport Heroes and Sport Legacy collections, on loan from the Canadian Sport Centre Calgary, for the next six months.
Honoured Members
"It's amazing to see Canada's Sports Hall of Fame finally settle in a beautiful facility in a city that's been able to market itself internationally as a destination for sport tourism," said Marnie McBean, five-time Olympic medallist and Honoured Member. McBean was also named to the Hall of Fame Board of Directors in April, which has been actively working on a $20 million fundraising campaign in support of the Hall. "Our nation's sport stories and heroes have a home and an avenue to inspire the next generation of athletes and champions."
For further information on Infrastructure Canada’s investments in Alberta, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For more information on Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, please visit www.sportshall.ca.
Contacts:
Vanessa Schneider
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Infrastructure Canada
www.buildingcanada.gc.ca
613-948-1148
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Office of the Mayor
City of Calgary
403-268-5622
Chris Dornan
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
281.703.4394
hpprchris@comcast.net
