Larger facility will better serve needs of community
Winnipeg, Manitoba, June 27, 2012 – The newly expanded Winnipeg Harvest Community Food Distribution and Training Centre hosted a building dedication of its new facility today. The facility has been in operation since February 2011. Today's dedication was for the hungry families Winnipeg Harvest feeds, the volunteer families who help other families feed themselves and future generations who will help eradicate poverty. Dignitaries were on hand from the federal and provincial governments to mark the re-opening of this non-profit organization that has been an important part of the community for over a quarter-century.
With these renovations and expansion now complete, the Centre can better serve low-income families in Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba in need of food and seeking employment education and training opportunities.
"Our government was extremely proud to support the Winnipeg Harvest expansion,"
said the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport) and Member of Parliament for Charleswood - St. James - Assiniboia. "For 27 years, Winnipeg Harvest has been there for families in need in the Winnipeg area and it can operate now in a facility more suitable to the needs of the community."
The project involved the demolition of one of three attached buildings that made up the original Winnipeg Harvest facility to make way for a new two-storey building. This structure now accommodates an expanded distribution centre, a new training centre and offices, as well as a model urban garden, a training kitchen to help low-income families acquire the skills to produce nutritious meals, and a vibrant gathering space. The renovations and expansion will increase warehouse space by 30 percent, and increase training facilities by half.
"The province of Manitoba is very pleased to support this important expansion initiative. Winnipeg Harvest will now have more room to store donated foods from generous Manitobans. The added space will also allow for expanded employment education and opportunities for training in food preparation that will benefit children and families,"
said Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux. "Manitoba is known for producing an abundance of healthy, local foods and famous for the generosity of our community members who are always willing to help individuals and families in need."
"We are working towards cutting the need for food bank use by half by the end of the decade. Our report card indicates where we are in working towards that goal. This new building has provided the tools we need to offer better skills for job and life training, and better sharing of food throughout Manitoba. This is the foundation for reaching that goal and for a future without poverty in our province,"
said David Northcott, Executive Director, Winnipeg Harvest. "Thank you to the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba through Infrastructure Program funding, to provide the tools we need to fight hunger and feed hope."
The governments of Canada and Manitoba each committed $1.66 million in funding under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund toward this project. Winnipeg Harvest's donors and supporters provided the balance of funding toward total eligible project costs of $5 million.
As part of the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund supported more than 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country. Together, the governments of Canada and Manitoba committed close to $280 million to 111 projects under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund across Manitoba.
Investing in infrastructure is a key part of the Government of Canada's plan to create jobs, generate economic growth and ensure long-term prosperity. Over the course of the summer, the Government of Canada will be engaging provinces, territories and stakeholders in a series of roundtables to develop a new long-term infrastructure plan. This plan will focus on investments that support job creation and economic growth, while building strong, prosperous communities across the country. In addition, the Government of Canada will hold a roundtable with national stakeholders and representatives of the private sector at the end of the summer. Working together to develop this plan will provide new opportunities for all orders of government and the private sector to build partnerships to improve public infrastructure in Canada.
For further information on Infrastructure Canada's projects in Manitoba, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
To learn more about Manitoba’s infrastructure projects, please visit www.infrastructure.mb.ca.
For more information, contact:
Brayden Akers
Office of the Minister of State (Transport)
613-991-0700
Naline Rampersad
Cabinet Communications
Province of Manitoba
204-945-1494
Chris Albi
Communications Coordinator
Winnipeg Harvest
Tel: 204-982-3584
Cell: 204-229-9660
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
