Québec City, Quebec, July 4, 2013 – Mr. Denis Brière, Rector of Laval University, accompanied by the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister for La Francophonie, Agnès Maltais, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches regions, and Mr. Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Québec City, today announced the completion of expansion work on the PEPS building, a physical education and sports centre.
The conclusion of this major project means that Laval University can now prepare the new facilities so they will be able to welcome students, as well as the university and regional communities, in September.
The new facilities include a sports amphitheatre with seating for approximately 3,100, an aquatic centre with an Olympic-size pool and seating for nearly 1,000 spectators, as well as a training room accessible to students, athletes at all levels and the public. These additions and improvements make Laval University PEPS the biggest sports complex in Quebec.
The architectural concept, with its extensive use of wood, the building's aesthetic qualities and the many "green"
measures applied make this structure an exemplary building, reflecting Laval University's commitment to acquire infrastructure that complies with the principles of sustainable development.
"Our government's top priority is jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. Our government recognizes the importance of supporting recreational infrastructure that offers countless opportunities for residents, visitors and students to get active, stay healthy and participate in sporting events,"
declared the Honourable Steven Blaney. "We are proud to invest in recreation infrastructure projects like the Physical Education and Sports Pavilion, as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth, and building strong, prosperous communities here in Quebec."
"The Government of Quebec is proud to be involved with this mobilizing initiative, a testament to the strength of our regional collaboration. I am convinced that these new, modern, high-quality facilities will enable the Capitale-Nationale region to reaffirm its status in terms of the organization of high-level sports events and thus raise its profile around the world. This multi-sport centre will help develop elite athletes, while remaining accessible to the public,"
added Minister Maltais.
"Today, the expansion of the Laval University Sports Centre is complete and another dream has become reality. These modern facilities are a testament to the desire of the City to encourage an active lifestyle and promote the development of competitive sports in the region. I encourage all Quebeckers to use these wonderful facilities and for sports organizations to promote their use for national and international competitions,"
said Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Québec City.
"We are pleased to be able to offer our students, staff and the entire local community sports infrastructure of the highest calibre, which will contribute in its own way to the well-being of the population, while adhering to the financial parameters established at the outset of the project,"
said Mr. Brière, Rector of Laval University.
This project, with a total cost of $81.46 million, was made possible thanks to investments from the Government of Canada's Building Canada Fund–Major Infrastructure Component and the Government of Quebec's Department of Education, Recreation and Sports' Fonds pour le développement du Sport et de l'activité physique. These two levels of government each contributed $35.73 million. The City of Québec contributed $10 million.
In addition, the Government of Canada contributed $481,000 through the Economic Development Program for Quebec of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.
Sources:
Marie-Josée Paquette
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
613-991-0700
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
or toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Paul-Christian Nolin
Press Secretary to the Mayor of Québec
418-641-6434
Mélanie Harvey
Press Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches regions
418-643-4810
Mathieu Le Blanc
Press Secretary to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sport
418-644-0664
Jean-François Huppé
Media Relations
Laval University
418-656-7785
