Government of Canada Invests in Key Recreational Centre

October 30, 2009

Ron Cannan, MP, the Y's CEO Sharon Peterson, Y board member Ron Stewardson and Mayor Sharon Shepherd do the YMCA dance at the Athans Aquatic Centre in Rutland. (Photo by Adrian Nieoczym courtesy of Kelowna.com)

Kelowna, British Columbia – Ron Cannan, Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced today federal funding for the Central Okanagan YMCA-YWCA expansion to strengthen economic opportunities in the City of Kelowna and area. Funding for this investment is being provided under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, a major job creating investment under Canada’s Economic Action Plan.  

“The YMCA-YWCA of the Central Okanagan plays an important role in our community and I am happy that our Government is partnering with the City of Kelowna and the Y to help move this project forward.    I’d like to make special note of the fact that this project was very important to the late Councillor Brian Given, who passed away on August 17th.   Brian was very passionate about this project and would be very pleased to know that it is becoming a reality.  I encourage the community to help support the Y as the Committee works to raise the final funding needed to complete the project,” said Ron Cannan, Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country.

“Expansion of the Kelowna Family YMCA-YWCA will double the Kelowna Family Y’s capacity to serve the community with a greater number of programs and services designed to strengthen families, reach out to youth, improve access to early learning programs for young children and create a centre of community” said Randy Schueler, the YMCA-YWCA’s Board President.  “The planned expansion includes a new gymnasium, suspended running track, a youth centre, remedial health space and a child and family resource centre – more than 13,000 additional square feet that will help us build more strong kids, strong families and strong communities.  We are extremely grateful for the support provided by the Government of Canada and this RInC funding; it is definitely the foundation funding that is needed to help make this project become a reality.”

 “This building is one of the recreational pillars of the community in Kelowna,” said Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd. “We truly appreciate the federal government recognizing this expansion project as a worthy investment in the health and well-being of our citizens.”

The expansion cost is projected to be approximately $5 million. This RInC funding will provide $1 million, the City of Kelowna is contributing up to $2 million plus an additional $350,000 to address the building’s aging infrastructure and the Y is fundraising the remaining $2.4 million.

The expansion project is expected to generate 140 person months of employment.  Design and permitting will happen this fiscal year with construction planned for spring.  The project will be completed by March 31, 2011.

The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program is investing $500 million in recreational facilities across Canada over a two-year period. It will 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. A total of almost $163 million in RinC funding will be invested across the four western provinces.

RInC is part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada’s multi-faceted stimulus plan that will ensure a quick recovery from the current economic downturn. Western Economic Diversification Canada is delivering the initiative in the four western provinces.

For information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.