MOOSE JAW AND MOSSBANK ARENAS RECEIVE $500,000 IN UPGRADES DURING HOCKEY DAY IN SASKATCHEWAN

Saskatchewan Minor Hockey Association's inaugural "Hockey Day in Saskatchewan" was celebrated in Moose Jaw with a $247,000 contribution from the federal and provincial governments for arena upgrades to Pla-Mor Palace and the Mossbank Sports Arena. The theme of "Hockey Day in Canada is to promote the game of hockey and provide minor hockey associations with a platform to raise funds for ongoing repairs and maintenance of their local hockey rink.

The investment from the Government of Canada and Saskatchewan will result in the installation of new energy-efficient heating systems and safety glass along the boards of the two rinks. The funding is provided through the Canada-Saskatchewan Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF), and comprises 50 per cent of the total $495,000 project costs.

The announcement was made today by Dave Batters, Member of Parliament for Palliser, on behalf of Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council of Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification, Moose Jaw North MLA Warren Michelson, on behalf of Saskatchewan Municipal Affairs Minister Bill Hutchinson, Moose Jaw Mayor Dale McBain and Mossbank Mayor Carl Weiss.

"On Hockey Day in Saskatchewan, the Government of Canada is pleased to help Moose Jaw and Mossbank revitalize their community arenas," said Batters. "Today's investment reflects our government's commitment to work in partnership with the province and communities to help them grow as a vibrant and productive neighbourhood to live, work, play and raise families"

"I could think of no better day than Hockey Day in Saskatchewan to announce these arena improvements that will deliver real benefits to the residents of Moose Jaw, Mossbank and surrounding areas," Michelson said. "The Province's investment in these facilities will help deliver on our government's goal of making a better life for all Saskatchewan people."

The Mossbank Sports Arena project is estimated to cost $53,000 and includes installing three new energy-efficient furnaces, adding tempered glass to those portions of the rink boards without it, replacing the glass in the lobby, and removing pillars to improve sight lines. The federal and provincial governments are jointly investing $26,434 toward this project.

"The upgrades to the Mossbank Sports Arena will ensure our facility will remain a vibrant and integral part of our community for many years to come," Weiss said. "Our arena has been in need of renovations for a very long time but the funds to do the work were not readily available. MRIF will contribute 50 per cent of the project will help us to proceed with some of the more pressing improvements."

Upgrades to the two rinks at Pla-Mor Palace in Moose Jaw will extend the life and enhance the public's use of the facility while improving public safety. The projects include the following: replacement of lighting, rink boards and glass; installation of a low-e ceiling, heater controls for spectator seating and a heater exchange to preheat domestic hot water; and the replacement of counters and lavatories in lobby washrooms. The federal and provincial governments are jointly investing $221,098 toward this project, which has a total cost estimate of $442,196.

"The City of Moose Jaw is extremely thankful to the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan for assisting our community to meet our pressing infrastructure needs," McBain said. "We are pleased to work in partnership with other levels of government to improve the energy efficiency and public safety of the Pla-Mor Palace. These upgrades will add to the use of the facility by our residents."

Under the initial MRIF agreement, the federal and provincial governments committed a combined $76 million to the fund, with participating communities contributing one-half of all costs, raising the total infrastructure investment to more than $152 million.

In 2007, the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan provided an additional $14.9 million to the fund as part of their commitment to help smaller communities meet their pressing infrastructure needs. This additional funding brings the total federal and provincial investment in MRIF projects to more than $90.9 million.

The Mossbank and Moose Jaw projects are part of a larger group of 56 MRIF cultural and recreational projects being announced across the province. The federal and provincial governments are providing more than $5.7 million toward the projects' $12.69 million total cost.

Before receiving final approval, community projects undergo a review process under both the Canadian Environment Assessment Act and The Environmental Assessment Act (Saskatchewan).

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For more information, contact:

Joanne Mysak
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-975-5942

Tyler McMurchy
Municipal Affairs
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5193
Cell: 306-537-7051

Jody Hauta
Director of Parks and Recreation
Moose Jaw
Phone: 306-694-4447

Tyler Jones
Recreation Director
Mossbank
Phone: 306-354-2305