SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — P.E.I. received some financial commitments for sports facilities on Tuesday as the province gets ready to host the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
Egmont MP Bobby Morrissey, P.E.I. Infrastructure Minister Steven Myers and Summerside Mayor Basil Stewart announced funding for three projects that will build or improve facilities in Summerside.
These projects include upgrades to Credit Union Place and the Silver Fox Curling Club, in addition to the construction of a new multi-purpose sports dome.
“This is a very significant announcement for our city here today," said Summerside Coun. Cory Snow, chairman of the city’s community services committee. “It adds to our ability to host events and bring people to our community.”
The new multi-purpose facility, referred to as the dome, will be built close to where the turf field is now in Summerside and will provide a year-round training facility for up to 18 sports.
The 138- by 75-metre footprint will house a turf field. Construction will start in 2021 and last between 12 and 16 months.
“This is one of the projects that we prioritized from the very beginning as being critical to the building of the sports infrastructure for the western half of Prince Edward Island,” said Wayne Carew, co-chairman of the host committee.
He shares the post with Brian McFeeley, who is also a city councillor.
“One of the reasons for hosting the games is to leave legacy, and this is a sport legacy that will be available to the whole western part of P.E.I.,” said McFeeley.
The Silver Fox Curling Club is getting ready to host men’s and women’s curling action in 2023, as it did in 1991. The club will see cosmetic upgrades as well as improvements to the sound system and lighting to meet Canada Games standards.
“It’ll be a great venue,” said McFeeley.
Credit Union Place will see six new premiere suites, including a media suite, as well as improvements to the elevator, two wheelchair-accessible washrooms and a catering prep area on the second level.
The new suites will seat between 20 to 24 spectators and are coming in response to a waiting list of corporate clients who have been looking for extra box seats for five years, said JP Desrosiers, Summerside’s director of community services.
The government of Canada is investing more than $2.4 million in these projects through the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan.
The province is providing more than $2 million, while the City of Summerside and project recipients are providing more than $2.3 million.
Morrissey said the federal government is keeping its eye on long-term goals while acknowledging many Canadians are experiencing difficult times.
“The pandemic will not carry on forever, and we cannot let time stand still,” said Morrissey. “Investing in this infrastructure is going to grow the P.E.I. economy and move us forward as we emerge from this pandemic.”
Alison Jenkins is a local journalism initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government.
