Feds Return $1,000,000 To Nanaimo

Beban Park Recreation Centre
Receives $1million

Nanaimo, BC –Today, Dr. James Lunney, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Alberni, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced the $4.6 million Beban Park Redevelopment project will move ahead as a result of Nanaimo receiving $1million dollars through the Federal Government’s Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program.

“Our Government, through RInC, is providing $1,000,000 for the City of Nanaimo to undertake capital improvements to the Beban Park Recreation Centre. This significant investment will help encourage greater participation in physical activity and the use of our great recreational facilities,” said Lunney. “This timely and targeted stimulus will create employment opportunities and meet increased user demand while ensuring that this community will have access to the essential infrastructure we need today and in the years to come.”

Beban Park is Nanaimo’s largest recreational complex offering both indoor and outdoor amenities that house a number of activities and community events. The facility was built in the mid seventies and was part of the amalgamation of the City and the regional district that took place in the 1980’s. The Centre is made up of the Frank Crane Arena, Beban Park Social Centre and Beban Park Swimming Pool. All three facilities will have their roofs repaired and/or replaced. The parking lot and access-ways will also be improved. Funding will upgrade the box office, warming area and multi-use recreation and wellness room at Frank Crane Arena. Additionally, the project will install a new elevator and replace the building’s concrete slab. Renovations to the Beban Park Social Centre will include new lighting and audio systems, as well as reconfiguration of the front office.

“We are grateful as a community for this significant grant funding. It will help us greatly with our ongoing efforts to provide a quality lifestyle for our residents. Beban Park Complex has served our community well over the past few decades, however we now need to invest in these upgrades reflect and respond to the current and future needs of our growing community,” states Mayor John Ruttan.

“One of the qualifying factors for us to receive the grant was that we had to have a plan in place and a determined completion date,” explains Suzanne Samborski, Senior Manager of Recreation & Culture Services. “We have clear goals of what will be included, but there is still plenty of opportunity for the public to share their input.”

The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program is part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. RInC will invest $500 million in recreational facilities across Canada over a two-year period. It will provide a temporary economic stimulus that will help reduce the impacts of the global recession while renewing, upgrading and expanding recreational infrastructure in Canadian communities.