BELLEVILLE: All three levels of government will jointly fund the sports and recreation facility in Belleville, Ontario.
Neil Ellis, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Member of Parliament for Bay of Quinte, on behalf of Catherine McKenna, Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Todd Smith, Ontario’s Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and Member of Provincial Parliament for Bay of Quinte, on behalf of Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure; Mitch Panciuk, Mayor of the city of Belleville and David Allen, President and Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of Central East Ontario, announced the joint funding.
The Government of Canada is investing more than $8.9 million in this project through the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada plan.
The Government of Ontario is providing more than $7.4 million, while the YMCA of Central East Ontario is contributing over $5.9 million. The new multi-purpose facility will include two pools, a gymnasium, an exercise studio, a conditioning centre with focus on youth and senior programing, and locker rooms with universal and family change rooms.
Furthermore, the facility will house social and educational community programming and meeting areas, including spaces for those with physical and mental disabilities. Once complete, the new YMCA Centre for Life will enable the YMCA of Central East Ontario and its partners to increase access to fitness, recreation, and community services for Belleville residents and those in the Quinte region.
The facility will provide greater access to modern and affordable recreation and community services, while creating a welcoming and respectful space for all members of the community.
• Through the Investing in Canada plan, the federal government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.
• Across Ontario, the Government of Canada has invested more than $13.9 billion in over 3,200 infrastructure projects.
• Across the province and over the next 10 years, Ontario is investing approximately $320 million and Canada is investing approximately $407 million under the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. This stream supports the construction of new facilities and upgrades to existing facilities like community centres, libraries, recreational venues and cultural spaces.