Province invests in Agassiz
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Half dozen communities receive funding
By Eoin Devereux
Neepawa Banner & Press
Several community projects across the Agassiz constituency have received some new support from the Manitoba government. On Monday, July 23, the province announced an investment of $101,273 to be divided amongst 10 different projects in six different communities. Projects being funded include:
MacGregor - One Hope Ministries of Canada ($50,000)
Neepawa - Neepawa & District Centennial Project Committee Inc. ($18,743)
Neepawa - Town of Neepawa. ($5,000 and $2,500)
Carberry and North Cypress/Langford - ($13,645)
Carberry - Town of Carberry ($1,300)
McCreary - McCreary Centennial Arena Inc. ($8,333)
Kelwood - Harvest Sun Music & Art Society Inc. ($1,000)
Kelwood- Kelwood Development Committee ($500)
Gladstone - Municipality of Westlake/Gladstone ($252)
In the media release announcing the funding, Agassiz MLA Eileen Clarke stated that she was very pleased that the provincial government was making these investments into the constituency. Clarke also added that projects like these make our communities stronger and improve the quality of life for Manitoba families.
An investment in safety
For Neepawa, the largest investment has been slated for an ice plant monitoring system upgrade at the Yellowhead Centre. That project has received $18,743. The system’s function is to warn people of a potential ammonia leak or other system malfunction. The topic became one of national concern because of the death of three arena workers exposed to gas in Fernie B.C., late last year.
Yellowhead Centre director of operations Chris Turner said an upgrade like this is so important to the future of the facility.
“An upgrade like this improves safety, which is top of mind for many operators of older arenas, due to what happened in Fernie last year. The safety of the all the facility user and staff is the number one concern. So, anywhere where we can improve safety around the facility, that’s what we’re doing,” Turner stated. “We have always ensured our system is in good shape, but these new upgrades are the newest, most advanced technology available.”
The software for the monitoring system is expected to be installed at the Yellowhead Arena by late December or early January. As for the two other projects that received support in Neepawa, they were $5,000 for improvements to the Town office and $2,500 to assist in the development of the Neepawa Tourism initiative.
Elsewhere in Agassiz
The largest single investment will go to One Hope Ministries in MacGregor, which received $50,000. That money will go towards an expansion at the Valley View Bible Camp, a western themed facility, located just south of MacGregor.
Another notable investment is headed to the Carberry Plains Community Centre, which received $13,645. Plans for that cash are focused toward the Swimming Pool slide. Meanwhile, in McCreary, the $8,333 slated for them will go towards the replacement of flooring in the viewing area of the Centennial Arena.
