September 4, 2008
NEWS
Ontario is investing in the restoration of the Canada
Southern Railway Station.
The province is providing $500,000 to help revive the
Canada Southern Railway Station to make it the centre-piece for downtown
St. Thomas. This project will see the restoration of the interior of
the station to make room for the North America Railway Hall of Fame
and four additional tenants. New signage, landscaping, park benches
and street lighting are also planned to enhance the surrounding area
and make it a welcoming place for vendors, employers and the residents
of St. Thomas.
The funding is part of the Rural
Economic Development Program which invests in community-based projects
in three priority areas:
•Improved access to health care services
•Revitalized communities and downtowns
•Enhanced skills training.
QUOTES
"I would like to congratulate the City of St. Thomas
and its partners on their initiative to restore the historic Railway
Station. I look forward to touring this restored historical site in
the future," said Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister
Leona Dombrowsky.
"We are pleased with the support of the Ontario Government
for this initiative. With this funding, the vision of making downtown
St. Thomas a destination of choice in Southwestern Ontario will be strengethened,"
said Mayor Cliff
Barwick.
QUICK FACTS
•Since 2003, Ontario has invested $60.1 million
in 183 projects through the Rural Economic Development Program.
•St. Thomas, Ontario is known as the Railway Capital
of Canada. By 1914, eight different railways were operating in St. Thomas
with more than 100 trains a day passing through the city.
LEARN MORE
Discover more about the City
of St. Thomas.
Learn more about the historic Canada
Southern Railway Station.
rains a day passing through the city.
•The Horton Farmers' Market was established in 1878
and is a community-driven market committed to providing fresh products
from local producers to St. Thomas and area.
For more information contact:
Sherry Persaud, Minister's Office, 416-326-6439
Brent Ross, Communications Branch, 416-326-9342
