Investments of over $7.6 million for Canada Games 2009 announced at UPEI on July 5
The University of Prince Edward island was the site of a news conference on Saturday, July 5, to announce over $7.6 million in funding for Canada Games facilities in the City of Charlottetown, including the new $6.8 million state-of-the-art Athletic Complex now under construction on campus.
A number of Charlottetown-area facilities will be upgraded and modernized to host various events during the 2009 Canada Games as a result of investments announced today by the federal, provincial and municipal governments as well the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). The upgrades will benefit over 4,000 of Canada’s best athletes during the 2009 Canada Games, and bring lasting social and economic benefits to Charlottetown and Prince Edward Island.
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and the Honourable Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island, were joined by Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee, Wade MacLauchlan, President of UPEI and Wayne Carew, Vice-President of the 2009 Canada Games Host Society to announce over $7.6 million in funding for Canada Games facilities in the City of Charlottetown.
“The Government of Canada believes that participation in sport is part of a healthy lifestyle and contributes to a healthy society,” said Minister MacKay. “These Canada Games facilities in the Charlottetown area will provide social and economic benefits for years to come. Venues like these better position the province to host large-scale events that create positive economic spin-offs that will be felt across the Island.”
Today’s announcement outlined details of the new $6.8 million state-of-the-art Athletic Complex that is currently under construction on the UPEI campus. The Athletic Complex will host almost 50 track and field events during the second week of the Games. Also on the UPEI campus, the aquatic complex at the CARI Centre will receive nearly $300,000 in upgrades allowing it to host numerous swimming and diving competitions. As well, Memorial Field and the nearby tennis courts at Victoria Park will undergo major renovations totaling almost $530,000 for the 2009 Canada Games.
"The Canada Games are a unique Canadian event bringing together young men and women from every province and territory in a celebration of sport and culture," said Premier Ghiz. “These facilities will be a tremendous legacy for the Island and will ensure that athletes, as well as the general public, have access to high-quality sport facilities for years to come."
There are 32 proposed venues all across Prince Edward Island for the 2009 Canada Games. It is anticipated that over 4,400 athletes, coaches and managers will attend.
"The City of Charlottetown is a city with impressive sport facilities and a rich sporting tradition, some of which was born from the Canada Winter Games hosted by our City in 1991. It is fitting that we stand here today with our federal and provincial partners again to speak about further legacy building through the Canada Games experience", says Mayor Lee. "We are confident it will have a positive impact on the City and these new facilities will leave a legacy for Island athletes for years to come."
The organization of the Canada Games is made possible through the dedication of the local Host Society, and the contribution and support of the federal, provincial and host municipal governments, and the Canada Games Council.
“As organizers of the 2009 Games, we are pleased to be partnering with the various orders of government and UPEI to create top-notch facilities for hosting the nation next summer,” said Host Society Vice-president Carew. “It is especially rewarding to know that our efforts will also ensure that future Canada Games athletes from Prince Edward Island will have access to excellent training and competition venues.”
"These magnificent athletics facilities will permit our entire community to achieve new levels of health and wellness, and to host an outstanding Canada Games,” said UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. “UPEI is honoured to work together with governments and the community to create this major new platform for athletic competition and success."
These Canada Games facilities are being funded through Canada-PEI Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) with contributions from the Government of Canada, the Province of Prince Edward Island, and the City of Charlottetown. The University of Prince Edward Island is responsible for maintaining the facilities on campus. For more information about infrastructure initiatives in Prince Edward Island, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca or www.gov.pe.ca/cca
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Photo credit: The photo on the UPEI website's home page is courtesy of Brian Simpson.
BACKGROUNDERS
THE CANADA GAMES
Held once every two years, alternating between summer and winter, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for the next generation of national team athletes and future champions. The Games have been hosted in every province at least once since their inception in Quebec City during Canada’s Centennial in 1967. The Games are proud of their contribution to Canada’s sport development system in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity.
The organization of the Canada Games is made possible through the dedication of the local Host Society, the contribution and support of the federal, provincial and host municipal governments and the Canada Games Council.
UPEI ATHLETIC COMPLEX
The Athletic Complex is under construction at the UPEI campus. The state-of-the-art facility will host 25 track and field events for men and 24 for women during the second week of the games. The Complex will feature a synthetic 400m, 8 lane oval track, a water jump for steeplechase, a facility for long and triple jump, pole vault, discus and hammer throw, javelin throw, shot put, warm-up track, storage, washrooms, spectator seating and viewing as well as site and storm drainage and fencing. The total cost of this project is $6,793,322, which will be funded through Federal, Provincial and Municipal contributions.
CARI CENTRE – SWIMMING AND DIVING INFRASTRUCTURE
Charlottetown will play a lead role in 2009 when Prince Edward Island hosts the Canada Summer Games. They are major shareholders in a CARI Centre which is owned by a not-for-profit corporation - Capital Area Recreation Inc. This $299,400 project will upgrade the technical requirements for both the swimming and diving facilities at the CARI Centre. The swimming upgrades include the installation of pushbutton Daktronics, touch pads, lane dividers/covers, and darken windows to reduce light reflection. The diving aspects of the project include a 3m diving board, pool lighting, and surface agitation system including electrical components.
VICTORIA PARK TENNIS COURTS
The Victoria Park Tennis Courts are located in the southern section of the 40 acre parkland. The current venue consists of a total of six lighted courts, a tennis club house, parking as well as a nearby canteen service owned and operated by a local service club. The site has been chosen by the 2009 Canada Games for the tennis competition. The Canada Games requirement includes a total of eight courts in one venue. Rather than try to create a new venue with eight new courts and all the amenities, it was decided to add two additional courts. In keeping with a specific bylaw pertaining to Victoria Park, the Council held a public consultation, and as a result, have support to proceed with two courts in a specified area. This venue upgrade will not only enable the City to host the 2009 Canada Games but will also enable the tennis community to attract other future national competitions which also require an eight court venue. The total project cost is $229,000.
MEMORIAL FIELD UPGRADES
Memorial Baseball Field, located in Victoria Park in the heart of Charlottetown, is a premier venue for baseball play in the City. This site has been chosen as a primary venue for hosting Canada Summer Games baseball in 2009. The facility presently does not meet Canada Games standards in either the dimensions or type of playing surface. A substantial upgrade is required in order to meet Games specifications. The work includes stripping the topsoil from the infield and replacing the infield material with natural sod material to create a grass infield. The infield will have a drainage system as well as irrigation. The overall repositioning and expansion of the field will be moved in a northerly direction so as to avoid tree removal in the adjacent woods. Lights will be relocated and repositioned. New amenities will include bleachers, a bullpen; fencing and a press box. The complete scope of work has been endorsed by Canada Games officials to ensure that medal games can be played on these fields. In addition, City has already committed to hosting the 2008 National Junior Baseball Championships in August. This event will act as a pre event trial of the venue for 2009 Games. The total project cost has been approved for $299,814.
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