Canso Arena Receives Investment

Hockey players, figure skaters and rink enthusiasts alike will benefit from a $67,000 investment to improve the Canso and Area Arena.

Pat Dunn, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection, announced a recreational facilities development grant today, Feb. 23, in front of arena, figure skating club and minor hockey representatives.

"Providing all Nova Scotians with a safe environment to participate in sport and recreation is a key part of building safer, healthier communities," said Mr. Dunn. "The Canso and Area Arena Committee has worked very hard to raise the funds to get the rink up and running again. We are proud to support them with this investment."

This grant, one third of the $200,000 required for improvements, will be used to replace the arena's ice plant and purchase a heat recovery system to save on the cost of heating water for the ice resurfacer and dressing rooms.

The arena has been closed since early December when the chiller, an essential component to the ice plant, failed and could not be repaired. Winter programs like hockey and figure skating will not be available until next year.

"Getting this grant means that we can offer our winter programs again to the kids in our community." said Rose Boudreau, chair of the Canso and Area Arena Committee. "We will have a dependable facility for the long term, which is very important to our community."

The recreational facilities development grant is a $3-million program that helps municipalities and community groups plan, construct, renovate, conserve or acquire facilities for public recreation.

Normally the grants are handed out in region groups and take some time to process, however, the grant was given to the Canso arena outside of the normal process because of their emergency situation. Canso required the money to order equipment and start work so the arena can reopen next year.

Eligible projects for recreational facilities development grants include community centres, pools, sport facilities, parks, playgrounds, trails and other outdoor facilities. Community groups develop facilities to increase public participation in sport and physical recreation and work with Health Promotion and Protection staff to plan projects and apply for funding.

The recreation facility development grant program provides up to one third of capital costs; communities are responsible for raising the rest.

"Health Promotion and Protection's goal is to make Nova Scotia the healthiest province in the country," said Mr. Dunn. "Announcements such as these enable more communities to take a positive step toward reaching that goal."

Recreation facility development is one part of the province's commitments to invest $68 million in sport and recreation infrastructure by the year 2017.