Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, September 13, 2011 – Acting on behalf of Line Beauchamp, Quebec Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Nicole Ménard, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Montérégie Region, today participated in the inauguration of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu CEGEP’s Alphonse-Desjardins Stadium. 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 ceremony, expressed his delight at the completion of this project.
This new regional sports facility was made possible thanks to a total investment of $4,309,672, to which the governments of Quebec and Canada respectively contributed $1,118,875 and $1,000,000. The City of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, the CEGEP and the Commission scolaire des Hautes-Rivières assumed the remainder of the costs.
The project involved replacing the CEGEP’s natural grass soccer-football field with a synthetic surface and laying a natural turf field for training purposes.
“The students attending the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu CEGEP have cause to celebrate, for they now have access to a new field tailored to their needs as well modern sports facilities, not counting many more hours in which to practice their favourite sports,” noted Minister Lebel.
“Soccer and football have grown increasingly popular in recent years. To support this momentum, our youth need ready access to facilities of the highest standard. By installing this well-lit, artificial turf field, we are providing them with a safer playing surface. As well, synthetic grass fields provide three times more playing time than natural grass surfaces. The new stadium is sure to be the pride and joy of the entire region!” said Minister Ménard.
With stands seating up to 2,000 people, the new field will be used, among others, by the CEGEP’s AA football team, the Géants de Saint-Jean, as well as by students from neighbouring elementary and secondary schools as part of their physical education classes or extracurricular activities.
The Canada-Quebec Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program Agreement signed by the two levels of government has helped accelerate the execution of various recreational infrastructure projects in Quebec. The agreement called for the Government of Canada to invest $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 create greater financial leverage, as is the case with the other infrastructure programs.
This government funding was awarded through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program and the Programme de soutien aux installations sportives et récréatives of the Government of Quebec’s Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l’activité physique.
About the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program
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 in recreational infrastructure have contributed to the creation of jobs and improved quality of life for Canadians. For more on this plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca .
About the Fonds pour le développement du sport et de l’activité physique
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 fund, see www.mels.gouv.qc.ca .
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Sources:
Dave Leclerc
Press Secretary
Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports
Tel.: 418-644-0664
Mathieu Bougie
Political Advisor for Montérégie
Office of the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Montérégie Region
Tel.: 450-672-1885
Pierre Floréa
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-1282
E-mail: pierre.florea@tc.gc.ca
