Latest news with #recreation
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How a St. Paul soccer field bounced back after a car tore through it
McMurray Field is back to what it's meant to be: a space for soccer, families and fun.
CBC
6 days ago
- General
- CBC
Carmacks, Yukon, pool reopens after 6-year closure
Social Sharing The village of Carmacks, Yukon, has reopened its swimming pool after nearly six years. The pool first closed back in 2019 due to a host of issues with the building — from plumbing, to the electrical system, to structural integrity. Village mayor Justin Lachance told CBC having the pool back is about more than just recreation. "Being surrounded by water in Carmacks, learning water safety, learning how to swim is so important," said Lachance. "It was hard for the kids." Lachance explained that children needed to travel several hours to Whitehorse in order to take lessons, and the co-ordination involved was a challenge for community leaders and families. The federal government allocated around $340,000 from the Canada Community Building Fund for the repairs, and the Yukon government's Community Development Fund contributed around $7,000. The total cost of the project came to just under $365,000. The village and Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation have developed a joint agreement to equally share the costs of operating the pool. "Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation is happy to have played a role in reopening our community swimming pool," Chief Russell Blackjack said in a press release. Blackjack went on to say that he hopes giving kids more opportunities to stay active and engage in a healthy lifestyle will help tackle the community's challenges with addictions. Lachance said the new pool will offer swimming lessons, aquafit, recreational swimming and more five days a week. "All the kids here play together, they play hockey together, they're at rec together, they're at baseball together, now they're at the pool... it's just another chance for them to get together," said Lachance. While the pool has been receiving visitors since earlier in July, the pool had its official grand opening this week.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Orillia outsiders slapped with surcharge for using rec facilities
Big changes could be coming to the cost of fun in Orillia... especially if you don't live in the city. Those living in neighbouring communities to Orillia will be hit with a 50 per cent surcharge when using the city's recreational facilities next year. This increase will apply to various programs like swimming, summer camps, and memberships but not to user groups like minor hockey and figure skating. The city says more than half of its recreation users are non-residents and city councillors see this measure as a way to recoup some costs in next year's budget while maintaining service levels. Mayor Don McIsaac saying, 'Residents have given feedback, and they say, 'Look, it's not appropriate that we subsidize people from out of town. I mean, Orillia provides services, we have beautiful parks, we keep those up, people from out of town, we encourage our users of the park so people come and use the park, we're fine with that, but the rec center and the library, those drive our costs, and we just want to make sure we recover appropriately and don't unduly burden the taxpayers of Orillia.' The city says communities like Oro-Medonte, Severn, and Ramara can pay a lump sum to avoid the surcharge for its residents. They have time to negotiate that sum, with this measure to go into effect next May.
CTV News
20-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Sudbury's Valley East twin-pad arena gets $10M in provincial funding
The Minister of Sport announced $10 million for a state-of-the-art facility in Valley East featuring two NHL-sized accessible rinks and a multipurpose gymnasium The Ontario government is providing $12.6 million in funding to upgrade recreation facilities across northeastern Ontario, with the largest share – $10 million – going toward Greater Sudbury's long-awaited Valley East Twin-Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex. Neil Lumsden Ontario Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden announced $12.6 million in funding to upgrade recreation facilities across northeastern Ontario while in Greater Sudbury, Ont., on July 18, 2025. (Neil Lumsden/X) Provincial funding supports arena upgrades, economic growth The funding, announced Friday by Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden and Minister of Northern Economic Development George Pirie, is part of the province's $200 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund. The Greater Sudbury project, estimated at nearly $50 million, will feature two NHL-sized accessible rinks, a multipurpose gymnasium, daycare facilities, a café and administrative offices, positioning it as a community hub and potential event venue. 'The Twin Pads we have been talking about for over a decade now, but the city has always said we would only advance it if we had other levels of government funding,' said Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre. 'The province of Ontario established a $200 million fund for the whole province – we received 5% of that fund for Sudbury alone. That is the $10 million, which is really a recognition, I believe, by the province of the importance of Sudbury to the overall economy of Ontario.' Sport as an economic and social driver Minister Lumsden emphasized the broader impact of recreational investments, particularly in northern communities. 'I feel real strong that sport does so much more than just having people running around a field – it makes a big difference in communities,' he said. 'Especially on the sport tourism side, which drives revenue back into a community for weekends at a time. People don't always think about that, but it's important to all the businesses here.' Funding announcement - Sudbury - July 18 The Ontario government is providing $12.6 million in funding to upgrade recreation facilities across northeastern Ontario – including $10 million going toward Greater Sudbury's Valley East Twin-Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex. Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre, Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Bill Rosenberg, Ontario Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden and Minister of Northern Economic Development George Pirie are shown at the announcement in Greater Sudbury, Ont., on July 18, 2025. (Neil Lumsden/X) The province framed the funding as part of its strategy to counter rising costs while promoting active living and economic resilience. 'At a time when Ontario families are facing rising costs due to tariffs, our government is proud to support organizations focused on delivering better services,' Lumsden said in a news release on July 18. Smaller communities benefitting from repairs, upgrades Beyond Sudbury, the new sports infrastructure funding allocations include: $1 million to replace the aging refrigeration system at Espanola Arena with an energy-efficient CO₂ system. to replace the aging refrigeration system at with an energy-efficient CO₂ system. $614,600 for critical repairs at Kashechewan Arena , including roof replacement and safety upgrades. for critical repairs at , including roof replacement and safety upgrades. $585,250 for renovations at Markstay-Warren's Multiplex to expand programming like pickleball and Zumba. for renovations at to expand programming like pickleball and Zumba. $484,100 to replace the roof at Temiskaming Shores' Don Shepherdson Memorial Arena. Philip Goodwin, the executive director of Kashechewan First Nation, highlighted the significance of the funding for his remote community. 'In a fly-in access community, having an operational arena is critical to bring people together through hockey tournaments, cultural events, and community gatherings,' he said. 'These much-needed repairs mean our children, youth, families, and the wider community will continue to have a safe and welcoming space.' Northern priorities and long-term vision Minister Pirie tied the investments to broader regional development goals. 'By investing in important community spaces, our government is helping to ensure our northern communities have the resources to support their health and well-being now and in the future,' he said. Funding announcement - Sudbury - July 18 Ontario Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden, alongside Minister of Northern Economic Development George Pirie and Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Bill Rosenberg announced $12.6 million in funding to upgrade recreation facilities across northeastern Ontario while in Greater Sudbury, Ont., on July 18, 2025. (Neil Lumsden/X) Bill Rosenberg, MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin, echoed the sentiment, framing sports infrastructure as a tool for social cohesion. 'Investing in community sports isn't just about physical activity; it's about cultivating connection, inclusivity, and pride across generations,' he said. Next steps for Sudbury's twin-pad With provincial funding secured, Sudbury's twin-pad complex is expected to move forward after years of delays. The city will now focus on finalizing design and construction timelines, with the goal of creating a facility that serves both athletes and families. The Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund program remains open to applications from municipalities, Indigenous communities, and nonprofits seeking support for repairs or new builds. Ontario's total infrastructure spending under the fund is part of a larger $200 billion provincial commitment to highways, hospitals, and other critical projects. With files from journalist Alana Everson
CBC
19-07-2025
- General
- CBC
Vancouver Islanders call for better access and environmental oversight of private forest lands
A survey by a private forest management company on Vancouver Island shows thousands of outdoor enthusiasts want better access to forest land — but an alliance of wilderness advocates is also raising concerns about environmental accountability. Mosaic Forest Management, which oversees roughly 550,000 hectares of privately owned forest land between Victoria, Sooke and Campbell River, reports that the survey received over 7,600 responses and the feedback was clear: open the gates. According to Mosaic's website, the company has over 20 gates on the Island that it can open and close to control recreational use — including those controlling access to popular hikes like Century Sam in Comox and Mount Arrowsmith near Port Alberni, and front-country camping sites like Nanaimo Lakes. Access to the areas is often limited to weekends between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Steve Mjaaland, Mosaic's manager of forest protection, says the company would like to enhance recreational access, but gate closures are often necessary for safety and to prevent wildfires. "It's a working forest. There are a lot of high-risk hazards, especially hauling on the roads, which would probably be the biggest risk with traffic," he said. Among those calling for better access: Jenn Holland, who currently chairs an alliance of almost 30 grassroots groups on the Island called the Vancouver Island Private Managed Forest Land Action Alliance. "There's gates everywhere and people can't get to beloved waterfalls or lakes or camping sites that they used to be able to access," she said. Holland says the issue goes beyond recreation. "We can't get in there, and we can't see what they're doing back there. We can't see if there's been a landslide. We can't see if a water course has been logged. We can't see that they've logged an entire watershed," she said. "It's not just access for recreation, but it's access for accountability that's missing." WATCH | Hikers call for greater access to the Island's backcountry: Hikers call out Mosaic Forestry for restricting access to Island's backcountry 16 days ago Passionate hikers are calling out Mosaic Forestry, the company responsible for managing much of the Island's backcountry areas, for restricting access to forest lands. The company says it's looking for ways to improve accessibility. Issue goes beyond the gates, say conservationists Holland says that while hiking access is something that the public can easily grasp, she's focused on bigger issues, like conservation, private forest landowners and the province, that go beyond Mosaic's control of the gates. Dave Weaver, a retired forestry worker who now volunteers with the Beaufort Watershed Stewards, one of the groups that make up the Vancouver Island Private Managed Forest Land Action Alliance, says he takes issue with the Private Managed Forest Land Program, which was established in 2003 under the Private Managed Forest Land Act. According to the province's website, the program works by setting out management objectives for forest landowners, who in turn develop management strategies most appropriate for their land. Weaver says the act sets a low bar for forestry practices, especially in comparison to regulations for public forest lands, which have more restrictions on harvesting and clearcuts, and greater requirements for public accountability. "We need to have these difficult conversations very soon, with all the parties involved — with the provincial government, with the landowners," he said. WATCH: Vancouver Island groups call for forestry reform on private land: Vancouver Island groups call for forestry reform on private land 1 day ago In 2019, the province undertook a review of the Private Managed Forest Land Act, where Weaver says extensive feedback was collected from the public, local government and First Nations. The province published its findings, which show there was a recurring theme of concern about the sustainability of forestry practices and the effects on things like watersheds on privately managed forest land — but Weaver claims no tangible change ever came from the review. In an emailed statement, the Ministry of Forests said it's working to modernize the act following the 2019 review, and that "many of the issues raised during the review are being addressed through the government's work to make sure forestry supports ecosystem values." But Weaver says he believes even that review would be out of date by today's standards and is joined by the alliance in calling on the province to undertake a new review. In a statement, Mosaic said it would be willing to work with community partners toward a sustainable strategy. "Mosaic supports enhanced collaboration between private forest landowners, First Nations, the Province, and communities to ensure responsible forest management plays a key role in BC's economic, reconciliation and climate strategies," said Karen Brandt, the senior vice president of public affairs and partnerships at Mosaic Forest Management.
