Port Hawkesbury Centre Receives Support

A $900,000 cheque from the Office of Health Promotion will bring the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre one step closer to reality.

Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald presented the cheque today, June 4, to Bob MacEachern, co-chair of the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre steering committee, for development of the new centre, scheduled to open in September.

"This new civic centre will provide a variety of activities to encourage everyone in the community to be more physically active," said Mr. MacDonald. "It will help promote healthy lifestyles from both a health and a social perspective."

The $16-million civic centre has been under construction since June 2003. To date, the steering committee has raised $14 million in funding through government and community donations. When complete, the centre will boast a walking track, fitness centre, dance studio, racquetball and squash courts, and an NHL-size ice surface.

The ice surface will be home to the Strait Pirate Junior B Hockey Club -- the longest continuously active club of its kind in Atlantic Canada. The civic centre will provide a proper home to the 40-year-old hockey club and enable the team to host tournaments and other events.

"This building will provide a legacy to the Strait Pirate Junior B Hockey Club," said Mr. MacEachern. "A place where they can practice, play and welcome the community to cheer them on."

The facility will meet community needs for improved cultural and recreational opportunities. The indoor walking track also provides opportunities for physical fitness year round and encourages people of all ages to be active.

Research has shown that people who have access to sport and recreation facilities are more likely to be physically active. The Office of Health Promotion is committed to helping communities across the province develop and enhance their recreation facilities.