Rural Economic Development (RED) Program
News Release
For Immediate Release August 25, 2007
McGuinty Government Promotes Health and Economic Development
New Recreation Centre Strengthens Lambton Shores
FOREST - The McGuinty government is investing in a new recreation centre in the
community of Lambton Shores, Maria Van Bommel, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex,
announced today on behalf of Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs.
"This new complex will increase access to health and recreation
programs for Lambton Shores residents of all ages," said Van Bommel.
"The development of a new recreation centre will also create employment
opportunities in the management, operations and maintenance of the facility."
The province will contribute $300,000 to help the Municipality of Lambton
Shores and its partners, the Forest Community Foundation and the North
Lambton Benefit Foundation, develop a multi-use community and recreation
centre. The "Shores Centre" will provide a 200-metre indoor
walking track, fitness centre, full-size gymnasium, arena, meeting room
and municipal offices. The new facility will also be fully accessible
for people with disabilities.
"We are pleased to receive this financial support from the Ontario
government," said Gord Minielly, mayor of the Municipality of Lambton
Shores. "Thanks to this funding, our rural community residents will
have access to social and recreational activities that they might not
have otherwise received."
This is just one more example of how, working together, Ontarians have
achieved results in rural Ontario. Other examples include:
- Recognizing the unique needs of rural schools by increasing funding
by $2,329 per student as of 2007-08, an increase of 31 per cent
- Providing $472 million in 2007 to rural municipalities through the
Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund
- Recognizing innovation in the province's agriculture sector by creating
the five-year, $2.5-million Premier's Awards for Agri-Food Innovation
Excellence. In 2007, 55 awards totaling $425,000 were presented at events
across the province.
Today's investment was made through the Rural Economic Development (RED)
Program, which invests in community-based projects that support sustainable
rural economies in three priority areas: improved access to health care
services, revitalized communities and downtowns, and enhanced skills training.
Through the RED Program, the province has invested $45.1 million in 139
projects, representing a total investment of $477.4 million in rural Ontario,
since 2003. The Ontario government and its partners are building strong
rural communities that work better for the people who live in them.
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Contacts:
Kelly Synnott
Minister's Office
416-326-6439
Brent Ross
Communications Branch
416-326-9342
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