BUILDING COMMUNITIES PROGRAM INVESTS $2.8 MILLION IN CITY OF ESTEVAN

People in and around the City of Estevan are closer to enjoying increased access to indoor performances and ice events thanks to a $2,810,075 investment through the Building Communities Program.

"Recreational and cultural infrastructure is crucial to maintaining and improving the quality of life for people and communities," Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Sandra Morin said in Estevan today. "This Building Communities Program investment is another way that we're making life better for Saskatchewan people."

The Building Communities Program contribution will go towards the construction of the new Estevan Civic Arena and Arts Centre, which will complement and ultimately replace the aging Estevan Civic Auditorium. The new arena will feature an NHL regulation ice surface with seating capacity of over 2,600 for ice surface events and 4,000 for other events. The facility will be integrated into the existing Souris Valley Leisure and Aquatic Centre.

"The City of Estevan is extremely fortunate to be the recipient of a Building Communities Grant," Estevan Mayor Gary St. Onge said. "The dream of a new, larger, modern multi-use sporting facility is so much closer to reality now that this large grant will be coming. Along with the great generosity of our citizens through fundraising and the commitment of our Council, this grant gets us very close to the start of construction. We are fortunate that the Province of Saskatchewan has the same vision as our City and we thank them very much for their support."

The Building Communities Program is providing $100 million for cultural and recreational infrastructure over three years, beginning in 2006-07. The program seeks to ensure the sustainability of cultural and recreational infrastructure in communities throughout the province. It is the largest per capita program of its kind in Canada.

Information on the Building Communities Program can be found on the Culture, Youth and Recreation website at www.cyr.gov.sk.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Aidan Morgan
Culture, Youth and Recreation
Regina
Phone: 306-787-9087
Email: amorgan@cyr.gov.sk.ca