Residents of Old Crow to benefit from new community centre

OLD CROW, YT, May 19, 2019 /CNW/ - Investing in social infrastructure where Yukoners can come together, share ideas and access vital resources helps build dynamic and inclusive communities where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Today, the Honourable Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and Chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, Dana Tizya-Tramm, announced funding for the construction of a new community centre in Old Crow.

The brand new 913-square meter building will replace the existing community centre and serve as a gathering and recreational space for residents in the area. This new space will be more energy efficient, serve as a cultural hub, and provide facilities suited to preparing traditional food for a range of community events.

The community centre will also include meeting rooms, a games room, and a gathering area for Elders. This project will create an inclusive community space for Northerners to meet, grow, and learn from each other.

The Government of Canada is investing over $10.8 million in the project through the Rural and Northern Infrastructure Stream (RNIS) and the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream (CCRIS) of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. The Yukon Government will contribute over $3.6 million to this project.

Quotes

"The new community centre will be an exciting space where residents of all ages can access cultural and recreational programming, and essential community resources in Old Crow. Projects like these help build modern communities and ensure a high quality of life for Yukoners for years to come."

The Honourable Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"We are always pleased to support infrastructure projects that bring Yukoners together. A new community centre in Old Crow will provide an essential space to gather, and helps us achieve our goal of building healthy, vibrant communities."

The Honourable John Streicker, Yukon Minister of Community Services

"This new community center has had Vuntut Gwitchin involvement from the start. From the building's design, to its multi-use functional layout to serve our people in very meaningful ways for decades to come. This new space will be a vital part of our community as it will meet many needs for a people in the northern most community in the Yukon Territory, especially the gatherings that shall mark our memories, and time together as we celebrate our lives and culture with one another."

Chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, Dana Tizya-Tramm

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada is contributing $5 million through the Rural and Northern Infrastructure Stream (RNIS) and over $5.8 million through the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream (CCRIS) of the Investing in Canada plan to this project
• Budget 2019, Investing in the Middle Class, is the government's plan to create more good well-paying jobs, put homeownership within reach of more Canadians, help working people get the training they need to succeed, support seniors, and lay the foundation for national pharmacare.
• Announcements in Budget 2019 build on the Government's Investing in Canada plan, under which the Government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years to build infrastructure in communities across the country.
• $2 billion of this funding is supporting infrastructure projects that meet the unique needs of rural and northern communities like facilities to support food security, local access roads and enhanced broadband connectivity. In addition, $400 million is being delivered through the Arctic Energy Fund to advance energy security in the territories.
• $4 billion of this funding is supporting infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities.
• With many municipalities across Canada facing serious infrastructure deficits, Budget 2019 proposes a one-time transfer of $2.2 billion through the federal Gas Tax Fund to address short-term priorities in municipalities and First Nations communities.

Associated links

Investing in Canada Plan Project Map:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map

Federal infrastructure investments in Yukon:
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/investments-2002-investissements/yt-eng.html

Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

Budget 2019: https://www.budget.gc.ca/2019/home-accueil-en.html

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SOURCE Infrastructure Canada