Brampton, Ontario, November 22, 2012 – Today, the Region of Peel celebrated the completion of the new Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA). The former Peel Heritage Complex, which used to house the county registry office, jail and courthouse, was renovated and expanded to create the new cultural institution.
"Our government is proud to invest in cultural infrastructure to preserve and share Peel's rich history of immigration and innovation,"
said Kyle Seeback, Member of Parliament for Brampton West. "Through Canada's Economic Action Plan we have delivered lasting benefits to Peel, while promoting growth, job creation and economic prosperity in communities across Canada."
"Ontario is committed to investing strategically in infrastructure projects because they create jobs, stimulate local economies and build stronger communities,"
said Vic Dhillon, Member of Provincial Parliament for Brampton West. "As a result of our investment in this project, local families will benefit from new arts and cultural opportunities, now and in the future."
"The Region of Peel is grateful to our federal and provincial partners for providing the grant funding through the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Stimulus Fund for the PAMA expansion,"
said Regional Chair and CEO Emil Kolb. "PAMA is an important part of Peel Region in bringing the community together through arts, culture and heritage."
"It's thrilling to have purpose-built space to take us through the next number of decades,"
said Claire Loughheed, Manager of the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives. "The collections are now housed in state-of-the-art storage, exhibitions reflect 21st century sensibilities and as an operation we are poised to meet our potential in serving the Peel community."
Culture and heritage now have a home where kids and adults can explore and learn about the diverse history of Peel. Thanks to this project, significant heritage buildings were preserved and modernized, and exhibition programming, storage and conservation spaces were expanded. This space is now home to over 4,500 pieces of art. As well, visitors can access artifacts and archival documents significant to Peel's culture and heritage for years to come.
The governments of Canada and Ontario each contributed $3,333,333 toward the costs of the project through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The Region of Peel contributed the balance of the total project cost of $10,000,000.
The Government of Canada has engaged provinces, territories, municipalities and key stakeholders in a series of roundtables to guide the development of a new long-term infrastructure plan that will support job creation, economic growth and prosperity. We understand that we are on the right track: there is a need for strong, sustained investment and we must continue to work together moving forward. To improve infrastructure across Canada and ensure affordability and sustainability over the long term, our new plan will encourage greater use of public-private partnerships. This will help leverage new investments in infrastructure, while respecting the Canadian taxpayers' ability to pay.
This project also supports Building Together, the Government of Ontario's long-term infrastructure plan to repair, rebuild and renew the province's roads and highways, bridges, public transit, schools and postsecondary institutions, hospitals and courthouses. Through Building Together, Ontario plans to invest more than $35 billion over the next three years to create or preserve over 100,000 jobs on average each year. Infrastructure investments create high-quality employment, support economic growth and helps make Ontario's economy more productive.
For additional information about investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit www.www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
For more information on how Ontario is revitalizing its infrastructure, visit www.ontario.ca/infrastructure.
To learn more about the transformation of the Peel Heritage Complex into the Peel Art Gallery Museum and Archives project visit: www.infrastructure.gc.ca/regions/on/on-prof-eng.html#sub-region73.
Contacts:
Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure
416-325-0781
Josie Premzell
Supervisor of Development and Visitor Services
Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives
905-791-4055, extension 3625
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
