All B-FIT Funds Committed

NOTE: A list of projects that received funding through the B-FIT program follows this release.

All funds under Nova Scotia's major sports and recreation infrastructure investment program, B-FIT (Building Facilities Infrastructure Together), have now been committed.

Maureen MacDonald, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection, said today, Feb. 2, that projects throughout the province have benefitted from the program.

Announced in 2006 as a $68-million program, B-FIT was introduced as a 10-year initiative to fund major sport and recreation infrastructure.

"Although all B-FIT dollars have been committed, it does represent a significant investment that has been made in sport and recreation facilities across this province. People will benefit from this for many years to come," said Ms. MacDonald. "And while we recognize that there are more worthwhile projects, the fact is that money intended to last 10 years was committed in four.

"That is not sustainable or responsible. We must realistically face our challenging financial realities and live within our means."

Funds provided under B-FIT went to the construction, expansion or renovation of recreation facilities across Nova Scotia, including Acadia University's Raymond Field, Amherst Stadium and Northside Community Civic Centre in Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

"The decision of how to allocate the final B-FIT grants was weighed carefully and we've opted to ensure that the final two projects benefit as many people as possible," said Ms. MacDonald.

Of the $68 million committed, $4 million remains to be announced.

The final two projects receiving funding under B-FIT will be announced in the coming weeks.

The successful applicants have been notified and other applicants were notified today that the program has ended.

Following is a list of projects that received funding through the B-FIT program:

• Acadia University, track and field, $400,000
• Appledome, rink development, $2,000,000
• Bear River, Sissaboo Trail, $300,000
• Brigadoon Children's Camp Society, children's camp, $1,650,000
• Brooklyn Civic Centre, community centre, $400,000
• Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Renwick Park, $150,000
• Canning District Recreation Commission, rink upgrades, $482,000
• Cape Breton University, multi-purpose facility, $3,000,000
• Church Memorial Arena, upgrades, $350,000
• Dartmouth YMCA, upgrades, $153,000
• East Hants, additional ice surface, $5,632,000
• Eskasoni Band Council, rink upgrades, $326,000
• Hants Aquatic, bathhouse, $180,000
• Highland District Soccer, $600,000
• HRM, Four Pad Arena, $2,000,000
• HRM, Prospect Recreation Centre, $250,000
• Inverness County Memorial Ballfield Society, $113,500
• Kings County Trail Society, $155,000
• Maritime Muslim Academy, $767,681
• Municipality of Colchester/Town of Truro, civic centre, $10,000,000
• Northside Community Civic Centre Society, rink development, $4,000,000
• Pictou Wellness Centre, multi-purpose centre, $10,000,000
• Port Hood and District Recreation Commission, rink, facility development, $109,800
• Region of Queens, Queens Place, $5,000,000
• Ski Ben Eoin, $187,000
• South Shore/Annapolis Valley Recreation Trail Association, $185,000
• South Shore Fieldhouse Society, $750,000
• St. Francis Xavier University, track and field, $700,000
• Town of Amherst, Amherst Stadium, $1,200,000
• Town of Bridgewater/Municipality of Lunenburg, mutli-purpose centre, $10,000,000
• Town of Stellarton, track and field, $860,000
• Trenton Arena, new ice plant, $173,000
• Village of Port Williams, community centre, $200,000
• Windsor Curling Club, $720,000
• World Canoe 2009, $650,000
• World Laser 2009, venue development, $300,000