KENORA – Ontario’s Minister of Sport says a relatively new pot of provincial money is paying dividends when it comes to fixing up community arenas and other sports and recreation facilities.
Neil Lumsden was in Wauzhushk Onigum, next to Kenora, in late July to help announce over $9 million from the province’s community sport and recreation infrastructure fund to build a new arena and recreation complex in the First Nation. While that was the big-ticket item, provincial officials also highlighted several other projects in Northwestern Ontario that received money from the same fund.
“We need to do some catching up in Ontario and the premier saw it that way and that's how the fund was created and why,” Lumsden said. “It’s great to be out into the marketplace and make the announcements and be there as much as I can, but more importantly, see the response of the community at these announcements.”
The other projects the government highlighted included:
- $743,400 for Shoal Lake 40 First Nation for a new fitness space in its arena
- $998,000 for the Reverend Tommy Beardy Memorial Wee Che He Wayo-Gamik Family Treatment Centre in Muskrat Dam First Nation to fix up its arena
- $1,000,000 for arena upgrades in Kasabonika Lake First Nation, including work to prepare for an ice plant to be installed
- $900,000 for Deer Lake First Nation for the installation of an ice plant to its arena, as well as to build dressing rooms and upgrade rink boards and glass.
Ignace has also recently received money from the fund for planned work on its arena and recreation complex.
“They're gathering places,” Lumsden said. “These facilities — rec centres, arenas, gyms, tracks, you name it — where people go and they gather and then they do their thing and then they get together afterwards.”
“Whether it's pickleball, whether it's walking the circuit at the rec centre to do their five miles and they go as a group and grab a bunch of coffee, it plays an important role.”
The sport and recreation fund was announced in April 2024. The dedicated $200 million pot of money is to “revitalize local facilities, grow the economy and promote active, healthy living across Ontario,” a provincial government media release said.
Lumsden said, in smaller communities, simply having a space where year-round activities and sports can be held, and where things like youth camps can be run, is a big deal and what seems like a simple upgrade — like installing a power plant for an ice rink — can go a long way.
“There's a special response when you get into the medium and small communities, and their reaction and just their appreciation,” he said.
“It is making a big difference in the community.”
