MONTRÉAL, June 5, 2017 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Québec and the City of Montréal recognize the importance of having good recreational infrastructure that promotes healthy lifestyles, enables communities to be more inclusive and helps create more livable communities.
Nicola Di Iorio, Member of Parliament for Saint-Léonard–Saint-Michel; David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change and Member of the National Assembly for Viau; Dimitrios (Jim) Beis, Mayor of the Borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro and Executive Committee Member in Charge of Procurement, Sports and Recreation, and Communities of Diverse Origins; and, Anie Samson, Mayor of the Borough of Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension and Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee, today officially inaugurated Montreal's newest soccer stadium, which has been playing host to Montréal soccer teams since May 2015.
Quotes
"Sports infrastructure contributes to keeping our communities healthy. In addition to helping residents maintain an active lifestyle, this new indoor soccer stadium will have a positive impact by bringing the community together, particularly young people, and leaving a positive legacy in Montréal for generations to come. Our government is proud to be making investments that improve quality of life while promoting economic prosperity and creating well-paying jobs for the middle class."
Nicola Di Iorio, Member of Parliament for Saint-Léonard–Saint-Michel, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"It is with great pride that we officially inaugurate today this temple of Montréal soccer, which has rapidly become a truly signature attraction for this city. Montréal's more than 25,000 soccer players have been waiting for this project for more than 20 years now. Today, this stadium not only meets the needs and expectations of our athletes, but has also won many architectural awards. Our citizens now have an outstanding facility where they can practise their passion."
Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montréal
"Promoting health lifestyles is a priority for our government. We are proud to invest in infrastructure such as the stadium we are inaugurating today. Here, and all across Quebec, soccer is experiencing remarkable growth. Because it brings people together and is accessible to all, soccer has become the sport par excellence for Quebecers of all backgrounds, and this is particularly true in Montréal. The new centre allows both the young and the young-at-heart to practise this popular sporting activity year round in modern facilities."
David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change and Member of the National Assembly for Viau, on behalf of Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister Responsible for the Montréal region
"The City of Montréal has made significant investments in recent years to bring its recreational facilities up to standard. Today, more than 300 soccer fields are available for Montrealers to use, and with this stadium, we have successfully answered the community's calls for indoor fields. This sports facility is also an investment in the next generation, fostering the development and well-being of Montréal's young people."
Dimitrios (Jim) Beis, Mayor of the Borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro, and Executive Committee Member in Charge of Procurement, Sports and Recreation, and Communities of Diverse Origins
Montreal Soccer Stadium
Located in the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension, the Montreal Soccer Stadium is a unique recreational facility open to all Montrealers. The 12,600-square metre building, located in the northwest corner of the Saint-Michel environmental complex (CESM), is geared primarily to young people.
The design was developed by architectural firm Saucier+Perrotte / HCMA Architectes, winner of the competition launched by the city in 2011, and has already won many honours, including the Association des firmes de génie-conseil du Québec's 2016 Grand prix du génie Québécois award in the mechanical and electrical building category and the Ontario Association of Architects' 2016 Design Excellence Award.
The stadium is notable for its wood structure and its glass building envelope on all four sides. It is at the vanguard of a new generation of buildings that are designed to reduce their environmental footprint and that embody Montréal's creative spirit.
Montréal received nearly $12.7 million in joint funding from the governments of Canada and Québec through the Building Canada Fund, Large Urban Centres Component. Another $1.5 million was provided through a support program for sports and recreational facilities set up by the Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur.
Géologique: a Public Art Piece
Unveiled on the occasion of this inauguration, Géologique, a work by artist Patrick Coutu, sits near the outdoor multipurpose area along Papineau Avenue.
This 10-metre high work of art consisting of 4,800 hollowed out pieces of weatherized steel is inspired by the history and topography of the site. The repetition of the same mathematical motif creates, through its cumulative effect, layers that evoke the presence of the former limestone quarry.
Géologique was created in keeping with the Government of Quebec's policy on integrating art into the architecture and environment of government and public buildings and sites. It adds to the city's collection of public art, which now numbers more than 325 pieces.
Winner of the invitational design contest launched in summer 2014, artist Patrick Coutu has received many honours, including the 2007 Prix Pierre-Ayot, an award given out by the City of Montréal and the Contemporary Art Galleries Association, as well as numerous bursaries from the Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec and the Canada Arts Council. His works can be found in the public collections of major museums in Canada, the United States, France and Great Britain. Patrick Coutu lives and works in Montréal.
Quick Facts
- The Government of Canada will provide more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
- The Government of Canada's Budget 2017 proposes $21.9 billion to support social infrastructure,including cultural and recreational infrastructure, in Canada's communities.
Associated Links
For more information on the Government of Canada's $180 billion-plus infrastructure plan in Budget 2017: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/chap-02-en.html
Federal investment in Quebec infrastructure projects: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/index-eng.html
Large Urban Centres component, Building Canada Fund: www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/bcf-fcc-eng.html.
Building Canada Fund-Quebec: http://www.mamot.gouv.qc.ca/infrastructures/programmes-daide-financiere/fonds-chantiers-canada-quebec-fccq/ [in French only]
SOURCE Infrastructure Canada
Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-219-0149; Marie-Ève Pelletier, Director of Communications, and Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairsand Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security andMinister Responsible for the Montréal region, 418-691-2050; Noémie Brière-Marquez, Press Secretary, Office of the Mayor of Montréal, 514-243-1268; For information: Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll-free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected], Twitter: @INFC_fra, Website: Infrastructure Canada; Pierre-Luc Lévesque, Communications, Department of Municipal Affairs, Land Occupancy andPublic Security, 418-691-2015, ext. 3746; Renée Pageau, Public Relations Officer, Communications Department, Ville de Montréal, 514-868-4580
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