Latest news with #aquaticcentre
CTV News
12 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Miramichi aquatic centre to be named after former N.B. premier
Frank and Julie McKenna were joined by their son James and granddaughter, Sophie and City Council for an announcement on June 25, 2025. (Source: City of Miramichi) An aquatic centre in Miramichi will be named after a former New Brunswick premier. Frank McKenna, who served as premier from 1987 to 1997, was joined by his wife Julie, their son James and granddaughter Sophie Wednesday, as he announced a $1-million donation for the naming rights of the aquatic centre in the Arbec Wellness Centre. 'I want to tell you how attached we are to the Miramichi. I think it's safe to say we view this as our happiest place and all of our family have deep roots here,' said Frank McKenna in a news release from the City of Miramichi. 'It's been a hugely important part of our life.' The Arbec Wellness Centre is scheduled to open in September 2026. It will house: an arena walking track double gymnasium 25m/six-lane competition pool leisure pool enhanced community spaces Frank McKenna Miramichi mayor Adam Lordon presented Frank McKenna with a 30th anniversary commemorative coin of the amalgamation of the City of Miramichi on June 25, 2025. (City of Miramichi) The city says the facility's pools will be known as the McKenna Aquatic Centre for the life of the centre. 'We are very happy to claim him as one of our own just as we were when he was here as a lawyer and as our Premier representing one of Miramichi's ridings,' said Mayor Adam Lordon at Wednesday's announcement, acknowledging McKenna's work as premier and MLA for the area, which included the amalgamation of the City of Miramichi 30 years ago. Lordon presented McKenna with a 30th anniversary commemorative coin to mark the occasion. 'We are a city today because of Frank,' said Lordon. In 2024, the City of Miramichi launched a campaign with a goal of raising $5 million for the multiplex. McKenna hinted there would be more good news coming for the wellness centre, according to the release. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Kitchener gets $10M to complete recreation complex
Construction underway on stainless steel pools at the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex on Huron Road. June 16, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News) The City of Kitchener is getting a $10 million provincial grant to complete construction of a new recreation complex at 1664 Huron Road. The 222,000-square-foot facility in RBJ Schlegel Park will have an aquatic centre, four-turf field house, two cricket practice nets, an elevated walking track, multi-purpose rooms and the newest addition – a multi-purpose quad-gymnasium. Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex huron road Digital renderings of the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex. (Source: City of Kitchener) 'The upgrades will allow for hosting sporting events and tournaments, which will bring economic benefits to the region,' explained Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris. The investment into the quad-gymnasium is part of Ontario's $200 million community sport and recreation infrastructure fund. It aims to revitalize spaces, create jobs and give families more opportunities to get moving. Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex huron road Digital renderings of the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex. (Source: City of Kitchener) 'We started the project obviously not knowing there was going to be a gym,' said Project Director Attie Stander. 'Now with the funding received from the government, the gym is going ahead, which is amazing.' City councillors and members of the team, along with Ontario's Minister of Sport, signed the last structural beam before it went up at the site on Monday. Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex Huron Road Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic signs the last structural beam at the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex on Huron Road. June 16, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News) 'We have the recreation piece, which is activity [and] is important for everyone, from the earliest they can start walking to when you can't walk anymore, which helps our health system,' said Minister Neil Lumsden. 'The better we are at that, the better our health system is going to be.' This is provincial government's second investment in the project. The city previously received $8.1 million from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex Huron Road Future site of the 33,800-square-foot quad gymnasium at the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex on Huron Road. June 16, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News) The province is also funding three other projects in the Region of Waterloo. Chicopee Ski & Summer Resort will get $650,000 for snowmaking and lighting upgrades, while the Albert McCormick Community Centre will get $775,000 for accessibility improvements. And in Wilmot, nearly $380,000 will be used to replace aging refrigeration equipment to keep ice rinks running smoothly year-round. The Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex is set to open in summer 2026. By that time, the facility will be tournament ready. Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex huron road Digital renderings of the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex. (Source: City of Kitchener) 'This now makes it a $174 million project, $30 million of which is actually for the gymnasiums,' explained Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. 'This is really proving to be one of these amazing projects that currently is on time and on budget.' For local leaders, the investment is about more than just bricks and mortar. It is also about keeping the community active, connected and open for play — no matter the season. Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex Huron Road Work continues on tournament-sized indoor turf field house at the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex on Huron Road. June 16, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News) 'The other thing we're really excited about is the sport tourism potential [and] what this will mean for not only the City of Kitchener but also allows us to get bigger tournaments in the region overall,' Vrbanovic said. 'That's really been an integral part of the construction of this project, in terms of reflecting the increased diversity we're seeing in the City of Kitchener.' According to Stander, the next big milestone will be in December when the building is enclosed, and work can begin on architectural finishes.
