New Community Centre Opens in Wakefield-La Pêche Thanks to Government Partnership

Wakefield, Quebec, November 26, 2011 – Families from Wakefield–La Pêche will be able to get fit and have fun thanks to the completion of the new Wakefield La Pêche Community Centre, West Quebec's brand new multi-use recreation and cultural facility. Royal Galipeau, Member of Parliament for Ottawa–Orléans, joined Stéphanie Vallée, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier and Member of the National Assembly for Gatineau, and Robert Bussière, Mayor of the Municipality of La Pêche, for the grand opening of the facility, which was built thanks to the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.

This new multi-purpose building will serve as a main hub for all types of cultural, sports and leisure activities in Wakefield-La Pêche and the surrounding area. The building features a large multi-purpose room for physical activities, theatre and music performances, banquets and community gatherings; smaller rooms for classes and meetings; a youth centre; an expanded library, and a kitchen. The exterior features a children's play area, an outdoor ice rink/basketball court, green space and parking for visitors.

"Thanks to Canada's Economic Action Plan, this community centre will provide families and residents of Wakefield with new opportunities to participate in recreation activities, which will make the community a better place to live," said MP Galipeau, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "Our Government is proud to have invested in this important project that created local jobs and boosted the economy, and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact that this new facility will have."

"It is with pride that I am participating in today's grand opening of the Wakefield La Pêche Community Centre. The support from our government to bring this important project to fruition demonstrates our commitment to improve municipalities' community infrastructure in a tangible and sustainable way and to contribute to the health, vitality and future of all communities. The government hopes that the population will take full advantage of this new centre by participating in sport and recreation activities, as well as sporting, cultural and social events, so that it becomes a gathering place for all residents," added MNA Vallée.

The governments of Canada and Quebec are each contributing up to $1,646,182 toward the completion of this project. In addition, the Municipality of La Pêche is contributing $1,209,449 and the Coopérative de solidarité Centre communautaire Wakefield La Pêche is contributing $436,733. The total estimated cost of this project is over $4.9 million.

The Government of Canada's contribution to this project came from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which supported over 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country. The Government of Canada committed over $900 million from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund to more than 900 projects in communities across the Province of Quebec. This program boosted the Canadian economy for two years during the height of the economic downturn.

The Government of Quebec's contribution was made under the Plan québécois des infrastructures, which was augmented in January 2009 and now has a budget of over $44.5 billion for the period between 2010 and 2015 to upgrade, renew and maintain Quebec's public infrastructure.