CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – Dec. 10, 2011 – After a devastating fire in April 2010, the Evangeline region is celebrating today the official re-opening of the newly restored and rebuilt Evangeline Recreation Centre.

“Our Government understands the importance of recreational infrastructure to the health and vitality of our communities,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie. “The new Evangeline Recreation Centre will play an invaluable role in bringing together families, friends and neighbours to participate in events and activities that reflect the unique nature of the community it serves and contribute to the growth and economic development of the region.”

Evangeline is one of many rural communities across Prince Edward Island to have received funding from the Building Canada Fund infrastructure program. The Communities Component focuses on projects in communities with populations of less than 100,000 – helping these small communities respond to their unique challenges.

« The support of the provincial government to this project demonstrates its commitment to respond to communities facing difficult situations,” said Premier Robert Ghiz. “This community has reason to be proud today after all the hard work done by countless volunteers and local leaders to make this project a reality.”

The Government of Canada, through the Building Canada Fund Communities Component and the Recreational Infrastructure Fund Canada, invested close to $1.6 million in the project. The Province of Prince Edward Island, through Build PEI and the Island Community Fund, invested an additional $1.6 million. The Evangeline Recreation Commission contributed $2 million to rebuild the facility.

“Today is a very exciting day as we celebrate a major accomplishment made by our entire community,” said Guy Arsenault, Chairman of the Evangeline Recreation Centre Association. “We would like to take advantage of this occasion to thank everyone who helped us in one way or another with this massive reconstruction of our recreation center.”

The new facility houses an NHL-sized ice surface, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, administration offices and a hospitality centre.

The building also integrates the use of environmentally friendly components to help reduce heating and electrical costs.

For more information on the Building Canada Fund, visit  www.buildingcanada.gc.ca.

For more information on capital projects in Prince Edward Island, visit www.buildpei.ca.

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For more information, contact Andrew Sprague, Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal by email at asgsprague@gov.pe.ca or phone (902) 368-5112.