Infrastructure improvements will augment the City’s capacity to host large scale activities and events
July 14, 2015 – Edmundston, N.B. – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Edmundston has long been known for successfully hosting major events, festivals and sporting activities. In order to significantly build on the City’s capacity to attract visitors to the Madawaska region, the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche, today announced that the Government of Canada will contribute up to $7 million towards the construction of a new 91,299 square foot multifunctional amphitheatre. Minister Valcourt was joined at the event by Edmundston Mayor Cyrille Simard.
With permanent seating for 2,400 and space to accommodate an additional 1,300 people, the new amphitheatre will increase Edmundston’s position as a trade show, culture and sporting events destination of choice in northern New Brunswick. The two-year construction period will create local jobs and benefit small businesses in the region while the long-term economic activities generated by the multifunctional complex are expected to generate substantial benefits for the City and the business community.
Edmundston has a solid reputation for hosting successful major events, festivals and sporting activities in all four seasons such as the upcoming 37th edition of the Foire Brayonne, the biggest French festival held in Canada outside the province of Quebec.
Quick Facts:
- The amphitheatre will be located at the heart of the Édupôle complex, near the Université de Moncton Campus d’Edmundston, the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick Edmundston Campus, the Cité des jeunes A.-M.-Sormany High School and connected to the Sports Pavilion.
- The City of Edmundston has a population of 17,000. Over 80,000 people live within a 60 kilometre radius of the municipality.
- The Government of Canada investment is being made through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund.
Quotes:
“Our Government is committed to strengthening community infrastructure to help develop prosperous communities and improve the quality of life for Canadian families. That is why we are pleased to support projects like this one that will help the City of Edmundston increase its capacity to accommodate larger activities and events, generating economic growth for this region.
- The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche
“It’s a big day for Edmundston, Northwestern New Brunswick and surrounding areas. This partnership with the federal government, through ACOA, will help us build a project that we’ve been working on for a long time and that will have important economic and social impacts for generations to come. This project is part of a long term vision and the result of the work of many volunteers who have been hard at work and who deserve to be recognized.”
- Cyrille Simard, Mayor, City of Edmundston
“Today’s announcement is a crucial step in the realization of the project. We’ve received a great response from the federal government, the community, City Council and from the Province. We’re optimistic that all the funding will be secured soon and that we will be able to start construction.”
- Paul Bérubé, Volunteer Amphitheater co-chairman
Associated Links:
Contacts:
Kelsie Corey
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Rob Moore
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
613-941-7241
Paul CJ LeBlanc
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-452-3310
Mychèle Poitras
Communications
City of Edmundston
506-737-6799
