Fort arena to get major facelift

News Release
Ont. Govt.

FORT FRANCES, Ontario, January 21, 2013 — Across Northern Ontario, community and cultural centres, hockey rinks, swimming pools, and other community projects will soon begin repair and rehabilitation work thanks to support from the Harper Government’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF). The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister for FedNor, today announced a Fort Frances project that will benefit from the Fund.
“Our Government is focused on what matters to Canadians – creating jobs and growth,” said Minister Clement. “Through the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund, our Government continues to support communities across the country.”
In Economic Action Plan 2012, the Harper Government announced further support to help communities across the country modernize their infrastructure. The Plan identified $150 million over two years for the Fund to support projects that look to improve existing community infrastructure, such as community centres, recreational buildings, local arenas, cultural and other community facilities.
The Town of Fort Frances will use $200,000 in CIIF funding for energy-saving retrofits to the Memorial Sports Centre that will address the facility’s aging heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
“The recreational facility is used extensively by residents in our community,” added Mayor Roy Avis, Town of Fort Frances. “This investment, through the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund, will help extend the life of the Centre, as well as decrease ongoing energy and maintenance costs.”
The Fund supports, on a cost-shared basis, repairs and improvements to existing community infrastructure that is accessible for use by the public. Recipients of the Fund may receive contributions of up to $1 million and must leverage a minimum of 50 percent of funding from other sources. The Government of Canada’s contribution to recipients is contingent on the successful execution of a contribution agreement.