New arena and sport complex to provide year-round recreation for residents of West Hants
News release
Windsor, Nova Scotia, December 20, 2018—Investing in recreational infrastructure helps communities come together and stay active. The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia recognize that strategic investments in recreational infrastructure play a key role in supporting dynamic communities while creating good jobs that help grow the middle class.
Today, the Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Kings–Hants, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Chuck Porter, Minister of Municipal Affairs for Nova Scotia; and Abraham Zebian, Warden for Municipality of the District of West Hants, announced over $11 million in joint funding for the construction of the West Hants Arena and Soccer Field.
The Government of Canada is contributing over $4.4 million towards this project, with the Government of Nova Scotia contributing over $3.6 million. The Municipality of the District of West Hants will provide the remainder of project funding.
The West Hants Arena and Soccer Field is a 75,000 square foot recreation facility that will include an indoor skating rink, and an indoor soccer field and walking track. Located close to downtown Windsor, restaurants and retail businesses, the new sports complex will support economic and employment opportunities in the region, while providing a modern space for residents and visitors to stay active and socially engaged all year round.
"The West Hants Arena and Soccer Field will be much more than a new recreation facility. It will honour the community known as the birthplace of hockey; provide spaces for citizens young and old to engage in recreation activities that are essential to healthy living; and serve as a catalyst for economic growth. The Government of Canada recognizes that strategic investments in public infrastructure—including funding for sports and recreation projects like this one—create growth for the middle class and ensure that our communities remain among the best places in the world to live, work and raise a family."
The Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Kings–Hants, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"There is no doubt that participating in sports and recreation help improve our quality of life and our health. The Government of Nova Scotia is pleased to support this new facility which will play an important role in keeping our communities strong and vibrant."
The Honourable Chuck Porter, Minister of Municipal Affairs for Nova Scotia
"The Municipality of The District of West Hants is truly excited and thankful that the Federal Government has approved funding for the new West Hants Sports Complex to be built in the Birthplace of Hockey. This new complex will truly be the game changer that Hants County has been building towards. We thank the Federal Government of Canada for recognizing its importance and MP Scott Brison for his continued support of Hants County. A truly great and historic day for Hants County."
Abraham Zebian, Warden for Municipality of the District of West Hants
Quick facts
Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
$25.3 billion of this funding will support social infrastructure in Canadian communities.
These investments complement the Atlantic Growth Strategy, a federal-provincial action plan aimed at stimulating economic growth in the region through five priority areas:
- Skilled workforce/Immigration;
- Innovation;
- Clean growth and climate change;
- Trade and investment;
- Infrastructure
