LAURIER POOL RECEIVES $2 MILLION IN FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL FUNDING

June 29, 2009

 

 

WATERLOO – The Governments of Canada and Ontario will each contribute $1 million towards the rehabilitation of Wilfrid Laurier University’s 50-metre swimming pool. The funding was announced today by Peter Braid, MP for Kitchener–Waterloo, and the Hon. John Milloy, MPP for Kitchener–Centre. The combined investment of $2 million will help extend the pool’s life by 15 to 20 years, replacing its filtration and chlorination systems, expanding the mechanical room, and upgrading the building structure and roofing.

“Our government is proud to support recreational infrastructure, and encourage higher levels of participation in physical activity,” said Peter Braid. “Everyone from recreational swimmers to elite Olympic athletes have benefited from the Laurier pool, and this investment will help ensure it continues to serve our community for years to come.”

"This is great news for our entire community," said John Milloy. "I am pleased that our governments, as well as community partners and the Laurier community, have come together with a longer-term solution to support the revitalization of Laurier’s pool. This funding will not only extend the life of the pool by 15 to 20 years, but will ensure Laurier students and community groups continue to have access to the level and quality of aquatic facility they need to train and compete.”

“The Laurier pool has been a valued and well-used community asset for nearly four decades,” said Dr. Max Blouw, president of Wilfrid Laurier University. “The pool rehabilitation project is a great example of community cooperation and I am pleased that the federal and provincial governments have joined with the university, our students, and our municipal and community partners in funding these necessary repairs.”

The Laurier pool has already received $2.2 million in funding from the university’s student union, the Region of Waterloo Swim Club (ROW), the municipalities of Waterloo and Kitchener, and other community partners and individual donors. The pool is currently undergoing renovations and is scheduled to reopen in September.

The 35-year-old Laurier pool is the only 50-metre competitive aquatic facility in Waterloo Region and is used by many community groups, including the Region of Waterloo Swim Club (ROW), the KW Synchronized Swim Club, the Waterloo Regional Synchronized Swim Club, the KW Water Polo Club, and high schools, elementary schools and Special Olympics athletes.

This project is one of 758 projects announced on June 26 by Minister of State (Science and Technology) Gary Goodyear, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, and Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky, on behalf of George Smitherman, Ontario Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, worth a total joint federal and provincial investment of more than $380 million. Additional projects in Kitchener–Waterloo will be announced later in the week.

These programs were designed to provide a timely, targeted stimulus to the economy through investments that will spur construction activity related to existing recreational infrastructure. Beyond economic stimulus and job creation, renewing, rehabilitating and modernizing our recreational infrastructure has the additional benefit of encouraging higher levels of participation in physical activity and community building.

Projects were selected on the basis of merit and construction readiness. 

A full list of approved projects will be available on July 6, 2009, at www.rinc-on.ca.