December 15, 2014
Phase Two Construction of Sport for Life Centre Set to Begin
– – –One-of-a-kind Facility Key Venue for 2017 Canada Summer Games
The Government of Canada, Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg congratulate Sport Manitoba on the efforts to begin construction of the second phase of the Sport for Life Centre in Winnipeg’s inner city, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Shelly Glover, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection Ron Lemieux, and Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman announced today.
“Congratulations to everyone who worked so tirelessly to make Phase II of the Sport for Life Centre a reality," said Minister Glover. “I am also thrilled that the province declared 2015 the Year of Sport in Manitoba. The Government of Canada is a long-standing supporter of the Canada Games. Sport plays an important role in the lives of Canadians and in our identity. We want to encourage all Canadians to celebrate sport in their communities and to participate, get involved as volunteers or spectators in one of the many sporting events taking place across Canada in 2015.”
“We want to ensure sports and physical activities are a life-long part of people’s routines,” Minister Lemieux said. “This facility will be a lasting legacy from the 2017 Canada Summer Games for Manitoba, and will support inner-city youth, families, community groups, sport associations and athletes of all abilities for many years to come. Our world-class sports facilities will be showcased during our Year of Sport, showing visitors how Manitoba is truly where ‘Canada’s Heart Beats’.”
Construction on the second phase of the new 124,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to begin in spring of 2015 and will include space for sport training and programs, recreational pursuits and youth leadership development. The province of Manitoba has offered more than $16 million to support the project while the City of Winnipeg has committed $1 million from the 2017 Canada Games Capital fund and approximately $8 million has been raised through private sector donations.
“Every athlete needs a great place where they can train to get to the next level and develop their leadership skills. I know the Sport for Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg will be exactly that place for young athletes, their families, sports associations, and community groups,” said Mayor Bowman. “Winnipeg is a sports city, and the City of Winnipeg is proud to contribute to the project, which will be a legacy for the 2017 Canada Summer Games.”
“Led by the Province of Manitoba, our corporate, private-sector and community donors have turned our Sport for Life Centre dream into reality just in time to break ground in the Year of Sport,” said Jeff Palamar, chair, board of directors, Sport Manitoba. “We can’t thank them enough and are thrilled to be the key legacy capital project for the 2017 Canada Summer Games.”
Manitoba will proudly host the 2017 Canada Summer Games on the 50th anniversary of the games and they occur during Canada’s 150th year celebrations. Sport Manitoba recently became the first non-profit sport organization to receive Imagine Canada accreditation, recognizing the organizations operational excellence and commitment to financial management, transparency and volunteer involvement. Sport Manitoba’s CEO Jeff Hnatiuk will oversee the 2017 Canada Games committee. The games will be held in Manitoba July 28 through Aug. 13, 2017.
“In 2017 these Games will bring Canadians together in the centre of our country to celebrate our pride and passion for sport and culture,” said Hubert Mesman, co-chair, 2017 Host Society. “With Jeff leading our team and the development of the Canada Games Sport for Life Centre, we will leave a lasting legacy for our sport communities and a growing sophistication of our sport delivery system.”
2015 has been declared the Year of Sport in Canada and Manitoba. Canada will host international events including the World Junior Hockey Championships, 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games and FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Canada Winter Games will take place in Prince George, B.C. Here in Manitoba, the 103rd Grey Cup will be hosted at Winnipeg’s Investors Group Field along with a number of FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer matches, while Dauphin is set to host the 2015 Telus Cup West Regional hockey tournament.
The first phase of the Sport for Life project opened in April 2010. The building houses Sport Manitoba and serves as the administrative headquarters for 60 provincial sports organizations. It is also home to a full-service sports medicine clinic that is open to the public and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. The new facility will offer opportunities in coaching, athletic therapy, fitness testing, nutrition and sports psychology, and will provide youth with positive role models and an alternative to gangs. Coaching and training resources will also be available online and via web-conferencing so all Manitobans can benefit, Minister Lemieux noted.
Construction of the Sport for Life Centre builds on other key investments in sports and recreation facilities across Winnipeg such as the new indoor soccer facility at the University of Winnipeg, Investors Group Field, and indoor hockey rinks at the East End and Garden City community centres.
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