Today, George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, announced over $17.4 million in federal funding for the renovation of the WinSport Day Lodge.
"The Government of Canada is committed to supporting infrastructure projects that improve the places where we live and gather, making them more green and accessible to all those who visit. With this federal support, Calgarians and visitors from around the world will benefit from the newly renovated WinSport Day Lodge for decades to come," said George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.
"With this renovation, WinSport can continue to support the hundreds of thousands of community members, athletes and guests who visit the park each year, preserving the day lodge as a vital community gathering place for generations to come. This project will renovate, revitalize and expand the 35-year-old day lodge, adding modern energy efficiency and important accessibility elements to the design," said Barry Heck, WinSport CEO and President.
"As a three-time Paralympian with cerebral palsy, I learned to ski at Canada Olympic Park at the age of six. Revitalizing the day lodge to be more inclusive and accessible removes so many barriers for those who thought sport and recreation wasn't possible," said Paralympic skier Alana Ramsay.
The funding announced today will enhance the WinSport visitor and guest experience, carrying on a tradition of community engagement and physical activity in this 1988 Winter Olympics legacy facility. The renovation will include four key design objectives: barrier-free movement between the parking lot, day lodge and recreation facilities; improved internal circulation, communication and signage, and accessible routes inside the building; an expansion and reconfiguration to optimize the size and location of guest service facilities, public use space, and sport services facilities; and reducing and optimizing the building's long-term environmental impact by transitioning the building to a net-zero facility.
