Calgary’s landmark site to benefit from funding under the Building Canada Plan
Calgary, Alberta, July 1st, 2012 – Thanks to joint funding of $8 million from the federal and provincial governments, historic Fort Calgary will soon undergo significant restoration and expansion.
“Today, on Canada Day, our government is proud to announce significant funding for Fort Calgary – one of Canada’s most important historical sites,” said Devinder Shory, Member of Parliament for Calgary Northeast, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “This investment is an excellent example of our commitment to recognize and celebrate Canada’s heritage, promote tourism and ensure long-term prosperity in Alberta, and across the country.”
This initiative will include the restoration of the Hunt House, built in 1876, and the Deane House, built in 1906. It will also include the expansion of the Interpretive Centre, and a recreation of the original 1875 Fort structures.
“The preservation of our heritage is essential to Alberta’s cultural life and as we celebrate Canada Day and the designation of Calgary as Cultural Capital of Canada, we remember the pivotal role that Fort Calgary played in the building of a nation,” said Heather Klimchuk, Minister of Alberta Culture. “We are proud to be a partner in the expansion of Fort Calgary to ensure the story of this city, this province and this country is told.”
“Vibrant communities recognize and celebrate their unique histories and culture,” said Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “I’m proud of the City of Calgary’s investment in this cornerstone of our history to ensure Fort Calgary continues to be an important resource for all Calgarians and visitors to our great city.”
“Fort Calgary thanks the Government of Canada for this significant contribution to our capital campaign. This is wonderful news in a year when we celebrate Calgary - Canada’s Cultural Capital!,” added Fort Calgary President and CEO, Sara-Jane Gruetzner. “Their investment will expand Fort Calgary’s capacity to preserve and celebrate the birthplace of our great city. Our expansion also plays a major role in the transformation of East Calgary into a vibrant urban village. Calgary’s birthplace will continue to evolve as the City’s most significant cultural landscape - a place where Calgarians come together to celebrate our city’s rich history.”
Fort Calgary was designated as one of Canada’s National Historic sites in 1925. This initiative will raise the profile and underline the significance of the site, enhance the visitor experience, preserve a fundamental part of the City of Calgary’s history and promote Fort Calgary as a tourism destination.
The Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta are providing joint funding of $8 million toward this initiative under Building Canada’s Provincial-Territorial Base Fund. The total cost of this initiative is $21.3 million. The City of Calgary is providing $2.1 million. Fort Calgary will raise the balance of funding required to complete the initiative.
The Provincial-Territorial Base Fund is a key component of the Building Canada plan. Between 2007 and 2014, Alberta will receive a total of $175 million from the Government of Canada for core infrastructure priorities such as water, wastewater, clean energy and safe roads.
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.
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For further information on Infrastructure Canada’s projects in Alberta, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For further information contact:
Geneviève Sicard
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Barb Toker
Communications, Alberta Culture
780-427-6530
Chima Nkemdirim
Chief of Staff, Office of the Mayor of Calgary
403-268-8204
Sara-Jane Gruetzner
President and CEO, Fort Calgary
403-290-1875 ext 225
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
