May 19, 2010

Edmonton, Alberta – The St. Catherine Community School Association is moving forward with the redevelopment of St. Catherine Playground thanks to the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, a major job-creating investment from Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

“Investing in the St. Catherine Playground will not only provide our families with an improved recreational area, but will also create immediate jobs in our community,” said Laurie Hawn, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.

Federal funding will help improve this downtown Edmonton playground, including the installation of new play structures and equipment as well as park beautification and landscaping. Once completed, the new playground will provide the community with a modern recreational area for children and families to enjoy.

The Government of Alberta is also contributing funding to assist with the upgrades to the play area through its lottery-funded Community Facility Enhancement Program. This program reinvests revenues generated from Alberta’s provincial lotteries to help empower local citizens and community organizations as they respond to local needs.

“The newly designed, barrier-free play area will give more Albertans the opportunity to be active with families and friends,” said Lindsay Blackett, Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. “I want to thank all those involved in this project for their commitment to strong and vibrant communities.”

Federal funding of $144,022 is provided through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Additional funding of $238,550 is provided through the Province of Alberta’s Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP), while the City of Edmonton contributed $75,000 towards the project costs.

“This investment through the Neighbourhood Park Development Program is one way the City of Edmonton works with our partners to make neighbourhoods more people-friendly, and helps create spaces where people can actively play and connect with each other,” said Lyall Brenneis, Acting General Manager of the Asset Management and Public Works Department, on behalf of Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel.

“On Behalf of the School Parent Council I would like to extend a huge thank you for your support for our playground here at St. Catherine,” said Kelleen Chopp-Lemay, Chairperson for the St. Catherine Community School Association. “This Playground is going to be a wonderful addition to our school and community and will bring many hours of play and physical activity to all of our students/children.”

The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program will invest $500 million in recreational facilities across Canada over a two-year period. In total, Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) has approved 718 RInC projects that will use all of the funding available in the West. These projects are helping provide a temporary economic stimulus that will help reduce the impacts of the global recession while renewing, upgrading and expanding recreational infrastructure in Canadian communities. 

Visit the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program in the West, or Canada's Economic Action Plan for more information

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