Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, August 25, 2011 – Sports, culture and recreation will soon have a new home in Bridgewater thanks to the construction of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margaret’s, Gerald Keddy, and Gary Ramey, MLA for Lunenburg West, on behalf of the Honourable Maureen MacDonald, Minister of Health and Wellness, today broke ground on the Centre. The Centre will provide families in Lunenburg County with access to high quality community facilities.
“This new Centre will offer countless opportunities for local residents to get active and participate in community events,” said MP Keddy. “Our government is proud to invest in infrastructure such as the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre and to contribute to building strong, sustainable and healthy communities.”
"Investing in this facility is an investment into the health and well-being of the residents of Lunenburg County," said Mr. Ramey. "Physical activity levels and sport facility infrastructure go hand in hand. That's why this investment will ensure residents have the means to get fit, get healthy and have fun."
The Town of Bridgewater and the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg have been working together to see this project realized. Mayor Don Downe, Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, and Mayor Carroll Publicover, Town of Bridgewater, are happy to see the project break ground. Both stated, “This project is to be a huge catalyst for our economy as well as our social and physical well being. It is an investment in our present and our future. The ground breaking is one of the major milestones in this project and brings us that much closer to having this facility ready for our citizens to enjoy.”
“We are very excited about what this facility will do for our region” comments Paul Belliveau, Chair of the volunteer Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre Society. “The community will now have a facility for their use and enjoyment making a major contribution to maintaining and improving the quality of life on the South Shore.”
The Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre will be a year-round sport, recreational and cultural facility. The facility will also include an aquatic centre accommodating leisure and competitive users, a therapy pool, a public library and other multi-purpose spaces, including administrative offices, community and cultural spaces and areas capable of hosting meetings, high tech training sessions, exercise classes, senior citizens’ activities and many other functions.
The total project total cost is estimated at about $33.4 million, with the Government of Canada providing up to one-third of the eligible costs to a maximum of $10.35 million from the Major Infrastructure Component of the Building Canada Fund. Nova Scotia, through the Department of Health and Wellness Physical Activity, Sport & Recreation, is providing $10 million, with the Town of Bridgewater and the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg contributing a total of $8.85 million. The remainder of the funds are being sourced through other grants, foundations and community fundraising.
Canada and Nova Scotia are working together to create jobs and boost the economy, while making significant investments that help communities improve their infrastructure.
For more information, please visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.
To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
Contacts:
Vanessa Schneider
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Tony Kiritsis
Health and Wellness
902-424-0585
Tony.Kiritsis@gov.ns.ca
Isobel Leslie
Administrative Coordinator
Lunenburg County Multi-Purpose Centre Corporation
c/o 60 Pleasant Street
Bridgewater NS B4V 3X9
Phone: 902-541-4374
Email: ileslie@lclc.ca
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
Toll free 1-877-250-7154
