Funding to Upgrade Community Infrastructure in Colchester County, Musquodoboit Valley

Communities in Colchester County and the Musquodoboit Valley will see major improvements to several facilities thanks to provincial grants announced today, June 20.

“A thriving community is dependent on access to spaces for recreation, culture, worship and socialization,” said Larry Harrison, MLA for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, on behalf of Allan MacMaster, Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage. “Each of these facilities contributes to the general quality of life in communities, and we are proud to support their initiatives that serve residents.”

The Don Henderson Memorial Sportsplex, located in Brookfield, is home to a full-size hockey arena, four-sheet curling rink, preschool and other community amenities. The sportsplex’s board received funding to expand the facility with additional dressing rooms, washrooms and storage. The new addition will be heated with heat pumps, minimizing the facility’s carbon footprint and decreasing operational costs. The intent is to have a barrier-free, inclusive and accessible environment for all.

Other community facilities will also be upgraded through provincial grants:

• Truro Alliance Church – addition of a playground on the property for community use
• Upper Musquodoboit Community Hall – kitchen renovations and updates
• Musquodoboit Valley Bicentennial Theatre and Cultural Centre in Middle Musquodoboit – renovations to the dressing rooms.

These community grants are part of a series of announcements taking place across the province.

Quotes:

“The sportsplex has been the heart of the South Colchester community for nearly 50 years. Funding will benefit all user groups of the hockey rink. Over the last two decades, enrolment of female hockey players has jumped significantly, putting constraints on the facility with only four dressing rooms. More dressing rooms will be added, and improved accessibility will allow all patrons to comfortably attend the rink.”
— Jack Roop, President, Don Henderson Memorial Sportsplex

Quick Facts:

• grant recipients and funding amounts:
  • Don Henderson Memorial Sportsplex – $750,000
  • Truro Alliance Church – $65,000
  • Upper Musquodoboit Community Association – just over $23,000
  • Musquodoboit Valley Bicentennial Theatre and Cultural Centre – just over $3,700
• the Province’s accessibility strategy, Access by Design 2030, outlines how the government will achieve its goal of an accessible province by providing people with disabilities equitable access to programs, services, information and infrastructure

Additional Resources:

Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage grants and programs: https://cch.novascotia.ca/investing-in-our-future

Online grant finder tool: https://beta.novascotia.ca/find-grants-offered-through-department-communities-culture-tourism-and-heritage

Access by Design 2030: https://novascotia.ca/accessibility/access-by-design/