PORT ALICE—The local arena will be treated to a makeover, courtesy of a $50,000 federal grant for infrastructure improvement projects.
John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced federal funding for Port Alice Arena under the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF).
“Our Government is committed to creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity in our communities,” said Minister Duncan. “By improving facilities such as this, we are helping to boost economic activity and maintain a high quality of life for Canadians.”
Funding of $50,000 will restore the exterior siding, paint all surfaces, replace emergency exit doors, repair the gutters and drains, and upgrade equipment sheds and the entrance canopy. These improvements are important for the Arena, which is the social hub for local residents for community gatherings and sports including hockey, curling, skating and off-season fitness programs.
“The Port Alice Arena is the recreational centre point of our community,” said Mayor Jan Allen, “Our residents depend on the programming that we provide there to keep fit and to raise healthy families who are actively engaged in the community. Programs like the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund are extremely important in helping small communities like ours to retain and renew our recreational infrastructure.”
CIIF supports, on a cost-shared basis, repairs and improvements to existing community infrastructure accessible to the public. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the Fund in Western Canada with an allocation of $46.2 million over two years.