Carcross, Yukon, Monday, July 29, 2013 – Residents, along with Ryan Leef, Member of Parliament for Yukon; the Honourable Mike Nixon, Yukon Minister of Tourism and Culture, on behalf of Community Services Minister Elaine Taylor; Chief Dan Cresswell of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation; and White Pass & Yukon Route representatives, today celebrated the official completion of the Carcross waterfront revitalization project. This initiative helped to renew the community's historic downtown area, and was celebrated during Golden Spike Day, which is held annually in honour of the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad and its ongoing support to the community of Carcross.
"Renewing Carcross' waterfront demonstrates our government's commitment to improving the quality of life of residents in this beautiful area,"
said MP Leef, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. "We are proud to invest in significant infrastructure projects like the Yukon Community Waterfronts project, as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth, and building strong, prosperous communities here in Yukon, and across Canada."
The revitalization initiative consisted of ten projects: upgrades to electricity infrastructure and streets; the building of new visitor facilities; construction of a pedestrian bridge, shoreline and boat dock; the construction of a totem carving building; renovating the S.S. Tutshi Memorial; and landscaping.
"The revitalization of the downtown core in Carcross is a significant achievement for the community,"
Community Services Minister Elaine Taylor said. "Our partnership with the Government of Canada has resulted in an investment that is enhancing Carcross as a visitor destination, a place to do business and a great place to live, which will provide long-term economic and social benefits to the community."
Together, the governments of Canada and Yukon invested over $6.7 million to the waterfront revitalization. The Government of Canada committed up to $20 million to the Yukon Community Waterfronts project from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF).
Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering a New Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada's economy has created over one million net new jobs since July 2009. The New Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, will support Canada's infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure, visit Infrastructure Canada.
For more information about infrastructure projects in Yukon visit Department of Community Services.
Marie-Josée Paquette
Press Secretary
Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838
Bonnie Venton Ross
Communications, Community Services
867-393-6907
Matthew Grant
Cabinet Communications
867-393-6470
matthew.grant@gov.yk.ca
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251 or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
The Carcross waterfront revitalization is one of two components of the Yukon Community Waterfronts project funded under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund. Together, the governments of Canada and Yukon invested over $6.7 million to the waterfront revitalization.
The revitalization of Carcross' waterfront included:
- Environmental assessment;
- Design and construction of a pedestrian bridge;
- Design and construction of the Bennett Bennett viewing deck & restroom & waste facilities;
- Road upgrades to improve traffic flow;
- Design and construction of a Carcross carving facility;
- Entrance landscaping with new signage to improve visibility from the highway
- Shore cleanup and extension of the boardwalk;
- Boat launch and dock design and construction;
- Design and construction of the S.S. Tutshi Memorial;
- Design and construction of the Carcross Gateway Pavilion and visitor information and washrooms.
