CENTENNIAL FACILITIES GRANT PROGRAM BENEFITS WADENA

The 1,500 residents of Wadena will soon have a new community hall.

The town has been awarded $100,000 from the Centennial Facilities Grant Program for the construction of the new Wadena Community Legion Hall. Funds for construction of the hall have also been raised by the volunteer community hall board, and the land for the new facility was donated by the local Legion.

"We're so happy to be able to contribute to a project that is so strongly supported by the people of Wadena," Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Joan Beatty said. "From the countless volunteer hours to the donation of the land to the hard work of the town administration, the new hall is a true community effort, and it will be much used and appreciated well into our next 100 years."

The Centennial Facilities Grant Program was developed in support of Saskatchewan's Centennial in 2005. The objective of the program is to assist with the construction and renovation of sport, recreation, culture or heritage facilities that are important to, and supported by, communities and their surrounding areas.

"The Wadena Community Legion Hall is an important addition to our town," Wadena Mayor Brian Helberg said. "The hall will be a centre of activity for our community, and a great source of pride for years to come."

"Saskatchewan's Centennial gives communities an opportunity to launch initiatives that will create lasting legacies," Beatty said. "The government is pleased to support Wadena with the development of a facility that will serve as a gathering place for the entire community."

The Centennial Facilities Grant Program is managed by the Community Initiatives Fund Board of Trustees, and has allocated a total of $4.45 million over three years. In the first two years of the program, 56 communities have received a total of $2.55 million. The final application deadline for the last year of available funding is April 15, 2005.

-30-

For More Information, Contact:

Randy King Culture, Youth and Recreation Regina Phone: 787-7519