Truro, Nova Scotia, November 9, 2013 – Residents in Colchester County now have more opportunities to get fit and stay active. Scott Armstrong, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development and Member of Parliament for Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley; Margaret Miller, Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia; Bill Mills, Mayor of the Town of Truro; and Bob Taylor, Mayor of the Municipality of Colchester, today celebrated the grand opening of the Rath Eastlink Community Centre, a new major recreational facility that will support active and healthy lifestyles for residents in the region.
"Our Government recognizes the importance of supporting infrastructure investments that offer countless opportunities for residents to get active and participate in community events for years to come,"
said Parliament Secretary Armstrong. "We are proud to invest in significant infrastructure projects like this one, as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth and building strong, prosperous communities across Canada."
The new community center now comprises a 2,500-seat event venue; a full-size ice pad; a three-lane walking and jogging track; an aquatic centre, featuring a leisure pool and a competitive pool; a fitness and wellness centre; and a rock climbing wall. In addition, the venue also offers multipurpose rooms, community meeting spaces and administrative and program space.
"Now more than ever, it's important to give children, families and all Nova Scotians the chance to live healthy, active lives,"
said Hants East MLA Margaret Miller, speaking on behalf of Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine. "The province is proud to support this great new facility, which I'm sure will be a gathering place for the community for years to come."
"I'm very appreciative of the federal and provincial government's participation in this project, it will in the future prove to be a pivotal part of future growth in our region! It shows that action speaks louder than words,"
said Truro Mayor Bill Mills. "The construction of the facility could not have happened without the financial funding from the Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia and the many generous people in our region. This fantastic facility will serve our residents, of all ages, for many years to come,"
said Bob Taylor, Mayor of the Municipality of Colchester.
The Government of Canada has contributed $10 million towards this $50-million project under the Major Infrastructure Component of the Building Canada Fund. The Province of Nova Scotia provided $9.5 million to the project. Through corporate and community fundraising, another $5.5 million was raised and the Municipality of the County of Colchester and the Town of Truro are contributing the remaining project costs.
The Building Canada Fund — Major Infrastructure Component provides funding for major infrastructure projects of national and regional significance that contribute to, among other things, economic growth, community recreation, culture and tourism development.
Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering $70 billion for public infrastructure, including a $53 billion 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 has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than 1 million net new jobs created 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 or follow us on Twitter @INFC_eng.
Marie-Josée Paquette (Disponible en français)
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838
Tony Kiritsis
Nova Scotia Health and Wellness
902-424-0585
tony.kiritsis@gov.ns.ca
Heather Fraser
Fund Raising/Public Relations Assistant
Ignite the Spirit Campaign — Rath Eastlink Community Centre
902-893-9706
hfraser@colchester.ca
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251 or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
