The new community and sports centre in Saint-Roch: bright and modern

QUEBEC CITY, June 9, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - The governments of Canada, Quebec and Quebec City recognize the importance of having good recreational infrastructure that promotes healthy lifestyles, and contributes to making communities vibrant and inclusive places to live.

The City of Quebec is pleased to present the concept for a new community sports centre in Saint-Roch and, at the same time, announce that it will be managed by the YMCAs of Québec. The announcement was made by the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Member of Parliament for Québec; François Blais, Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity and Minister Responsible for the Capitale-Nationale Region; Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Quebec City; Chantal Gilbert, municipal councillor for the Saint-Roch—Saint-Sauveur District; and Stéphane Vaillancourt, President and CEO of the YMCAs of Québec.

This project has received $10 million in joint funding from the governments Canada and Quebec through the Building Canada Fund–Large Urban Centres Component. The City of Quebec is also investing $5 million, for a total of $15 million in government funding. Taking into account the city's expenses not covered by the agreement with the governments, the total cost of the project is $17.9 million.  

The Centre will be built on Rue du Pont, on the site where the Cinema Charest once stood. In addition to a gymnasium and swimming pool, the project will include sports equipment, a training facility, a collective kitchen, a coffee shop, a drop-in day care centre, multi-purpose areas, furniture and IT equipment. The City also plans to add office space to the upper floors. The centre is expected to open in the spring of 2019.  

The City has asked the YMCAs of Québec to direct the centre, manage its programs, services and facilities and develop and coordinate all of its sports and recreation, community and commercial activities. The YMCA will also be responsible for all major and preventative maintenance to ensure the long-term sustainability of the equipment, infrastructure and building. This agreement will be valid for 25 years. In the first year, the City intends to pay $759,000 toward the annual management fees, indexed annually.

The YMCA will establish an advisory board made up of 8 to 15 community representatives. It will promote the participation of users, volunteers and community members in the life of the centre to ensure that the service offer is aligned with the needs expressed by the community.

Quotes

"Recreational infrastructure helps build inclusive communities where families can have fun and get together. I am delighted to be here today to highlight this important step in the creation of the new community sports centre in Saint-Roch. It will provide residents with new opportunities to engage in a variety of sports year-round, while fostering economic growth and the creation of well-paid middle class jobs."

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Family, Children and Social Development and Member of Parliament for Québec, on behalf of Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"I am proud of this announcement today, and I'm delighted that the Capitale-Nationale Region will be gaining a new community centre of this size. This new infrastructure will certainly meet the needs of our citizens. We are also pleased with the cooperation and the relationship of trust that have been established with the YMCA in this innovative project."

François Blais, Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale Region, on behalf of Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security, and Minister responsible for the Montreal region  

"For several years now, we have been working with the YMCA on a project to meet the needs of the neighbourhoods of Limoilou and Saint-Roch, as well as Vieux-Québec and Cap-Blanc. The City would like to thank GM Développement, a major player in the real estate sector, for its collaboration in this file."

Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Quebec City

"I am proud to present to the citizens of the Saint-Roch—Saint-Sauveur District what will soon be the new municipal community sports centre in Saint Roch. They will soon have access to a modern and vibrant facility that will bring people together and help them maintain healthy lifestyles."

Chantal Gilbert, municipal councillor for the Saint-Roch—Saint-Sauveur District

"We are proud of the trust that the City of Quebec has placed in our experience developing and managing community sports centres. We have been serving the Quebec City community for a long time and are convinced that this new centre will have a positive impact here, particularly for local children, youth and families."

Stéphane Vaillancourt, President and CEO of the YMCAs of Quebec

About the YMCAs of Quebec

The YMCAs of Québec is a charitable organization that builds stronger communities by providing opportunities for everyone to lead fulfilling, active, healthy and engaged lives. Its 10 YMCA centres, International Language School, Residence, Camp YMCA Kanawana and its 34 service sites across the province are visited each year by more than 115,000 people. The first YMCA in North America was founded in Montreal in November 1851. The YMCAs of Quebec is part of the Canadian network of 48 YMCA associations. For more information, visit ymcaquebec.org or our Facebook and Twitter pages.

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 investments in infrastructure projects in Quebec: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/index-eng.html

Building Canada Fund–Large Urban Centres Component: http://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/

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

For further information: Contacts: Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-219-0149; Simon Laboissonnière, Press Secretary, Office of Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity and the Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale Region, 418-643-4810; Marie-Ève Pelletier, Director of Communications and Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the region of Montréal, 418-691-2050; Cynthia Grenier, Communications Service, City of Quebec, 418-641-6210, cynthia.grenier@ville.quebec.qc.ca; Paul-Christian Nolin, Press Secretary and Political Attaché, Mayor's Office, 418-641-6434; Nathalie Viora, Communications Service, The YMCAs of Quebec, 514-523-2006, nathalie.viora@ymcaquebec.org; For information: Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll-free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: infc.media.infc@canada.ca, Twitter: @INFC_eng, Website: Infrastructure Canada; Pierre-Luc Lévesque, Communications, Department of Municipal Affairs, Land Occupancy, and Public Security, 418-691-2015, ext. 3746