More than $748,000 in provincial funding has been announced for ten projects to improve municipal sports and recreational infrastructure in the Huntingdon riding.
In a press release issued on March 21, Huntingdon MNA Claire IsaBelle unveiled the projects selected to receive funding, following a call for projects under the new support program for small-scale sports and recreational infrastructure (PSISRPE).
On behalf of Minister for Education and Minister responsible for the Status of Women Isabelle Charest, the Huntingdon MNA confirmed $748,017.89 would be spent on improving infrastructure in eight municipalities as well as two regional sports and recreational organizations.
The municipality of Howick will receive $41,320 for park upgrades, while the municipality of Saint-Anicet will be able to replace the boards and repave the skating rink in Cazaville thanks to an injection of $79,486. The municipality of Ormstown will receive $100,000 towards the installation of a new water park, and the regional arena in Huntingdon will benefit from nearly $14,420 for renovations. Funds for various projects were also awarded to the Centre de Plein Air l’Estacade and the municipality of Saint-Paul-de-l’Île-aux-Noix, as well as four other municipalities, including Saint-Michel, Saint-Jacques-le-Mineur, Sainte-Clotilde, and Napierville.
“This is great news for our riding,” said IsaBelle, noting that while active people are already quite drawn to the Huntingdon riding, the funding will produce an increased variety of modern facilities to keep locals moving. “I am convinced this new infrastructure will greatly improve the quality of life of the people who live in our municipalities, as well as those who will come to visit,” she added.
In a press release, Mayor Gino Moretti of Saint-Anicet expressed his content with the announcement, thanking both Ministers Charest and IsaBelle for their collaboration in selecting the project to repair the skating rink in the municipality.
“We are pleased the municipal council selected the Cercle de Loisirs de Cazaville’s rink for this grant, as it is badly in need of repair,” said René Hurteau, the president of the organization which runs a recreational centre in Saint-Anicet. Work will begin during the summer to ensure the rink will be ready for skating next season.
The PSISRPE was designed to support the construction and maintenance of sports and recreational infrastructure in Quebec municipalities with fewer than 10,000 residents. The program also works to ensure populations have access to modern and safe installations. The government is investing $20 million to support 250 such projects across the province
