Overlooking Henley Island, Minister Lisa MacLeod announced the Province's firm commitment of $29 million to the 2021 Canada Summer Games this afternoon.
“I'm going to say this once and for all; this will be built,” confirmed the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sport.
What that means to Niagara, said Doug Hamilton, board chair for the Niagara 2021 Host Society, is the legacy the Games will leave behind when they are history.
“New facilities will enable us to provide a phenomenal experience and leave a transformative legacy for our entire community to enjoy for many years to come.”
Included among these are a new Canada Games Park in Thorold, the Henley Rowing Centre in St. Catharines, baseball fields in Welland and Niagara Falls, softball fields in Grimsby, West Lincoln, and Wainfleet, and upgrades to its cycling course.
Asked about construction timelines, Hamilton said shovels should be going in the ground “towards the end of October.”
According to Sandie Bellows, chair of the Niagara Parks Commission and provincial appointee to the Games Committee, the Games will bring 5,000 athletes and a provincial press release states that 200,000 spectators are expected to descend for two weeks upon Niagara.
The next step is for the federal government to review the project and make final funding decisions to match the $29 million from the Province.
MacLeod was certain that, in this case, cooperation between the provincial Conservatives and federal Liberals will not present a problem.
“This isn't a political football,” she said.
McLeod also said the project will create "2,100 high quality jobs."
