The St. James Civic Centre is getting a $13M renovation
The St. James Civic Centre is getting a makeover.
On Friday, all three levels of government held a joint news conference to announce funding to expand and renovate the recreation complex.
Terry Duguid, parliamentary secretary to the minister of economic development and official languages and to the minister of environment and climate change, said in a news release that investing in infrastructure is the key to building "healthy, connected and vibrant communities."
"The $5.2 million in federal funding announced today to expand the St. James Civic Centre in Winnipeg will ensure that residents of all ages can get together, meet and share activities that keep them active and enrich their community connections.
The federal government is investing more than $5.2 million, the Manitoba government is providing more than $4.4 million, and the City of Winnipeg is contributing more than $3.5 million to the project.
The money will go to new multi-purpose meeting rooms, an administrative space for the St. James Assiniboia 55+ Centre, and a community kitchen. It will also help with improvements to the auditorium, the main building entry, and the washrooms. These upgrades will provide more program opportunities and improve accessibility.
Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman said the city submitted a project application almost two years ago, and that Friday's announcement is a "long overdue" investment from the three levels of government.
"The expansion of the St. James Civic Centre will provide a home for the St. James Assiniboia 55 Plus Centre and will help people remain connected, healthy and active," he said.
In a statement, Adrien Sala, the NDP MLA for St. James, said families have been waiting three years for the province to upgrade the St. James Civic Centre.
"While the PCs dragged their heels, seniors, kids and community members lost access to the programs and facilities that help them stay healthy and active," he said.
"Families in St. James and Assiniboia deserve a government that prioritizes the needs of their community and gets local projects done on time."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.