Executive Council
Education
Municipal Affairs
Transportation and Works
September 14, 2009Premier Announces
Unique Facility for St. Anthony Region
With Multimillion-dollar Investment
Students and residents in the St. Anthony area will
enjoy a brand new school facility and a new arena to be
constructed and attached to the new school, with an
estimated investment by the Provincial Government of
over $28 million. The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier
of Newfoundland and Labrador, was in St. Anthony today
to announce that tenders have been called for site work
to begin adjacent to the existing St. Anthony
Elementary. The Premier was joined by the Honourable
Darin King, Minister of Education, and the Honourable
Trevor Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Works and
MHA for The Straits-White Bay North.
"From schools to health care facilities to roads, our
government is building our province�s infrastructure,
particularly in rural communities," said Premier
Williams. "In fact, more than 80 per cent of government
expenditures have been in rural Newfoundland and
Labrador since we formed government in 2003. This new
facility is yet another example of our commitment to
ensuring our residents have high quality facilities and
services. The school will provide an outstanding
learning environment for our students, and the new arena
will contribute to the social and economic growth of the
area and promote sports, fitness and
active lifestyles among residents."
Funding for the new arena, which will have seating
capacity for 540 and an indoor walking track, will be
cost-shared with the municipal and federal governments.
The Provincial Government has also agreed to take on its
share of 90 per cent of costs of the $1.2 million over
run.
The new K-12 school will include a large gymnasium, a
commercial kitchen and lunchroom, a skilled trades
suite, computer, music and home economics rooms, a
resource centre and student support services suite. All
instructional areas will be wired for the latest
technologies. It will be fully ventilated and accessible
to persons with disabilities.
"Government is investing $121.5 million in the K-12
system this year alone for repairs and maintenance,
extensions and new school construction to ensure our
students are in safe, healthy learning environments,"
said Minister King. "Once complete the new school for
the St. Anthony area will be one of the most modern
schools in the province and will have the resources
students need to succeed in their post-secondary
education and beyond."
"The new arena will be an important addition to the
Town of St. Anthony and surrounding communities,
providing a venue to promote healthy living, and support
recreational programming," said the Honourable Dianne
Whalen, Minister of Municipal Affairs. "This investment
supports our government�s efforts to strengthen
services, and improve municipal infrastructure in
communities throughout the province. The arena will
improve recreational infrastructure and will be a new
modern facility to support active lifestyles on the
Northern Peninsula. "
As part of Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong
Foundation, the Provincial Government will invest
approximately $800 million in infrastructure projects
across the province this year.
"This government is once again illustrating its
remarkable commitment to making strategic investments in
infrastructure projects on the Northern Peninsula," said
Minister Taylor. "The construction of a new school in
St. Anthony will foster an improved learning experience
for students in my district. Additionally, linking the
school to the new arena will certainly emphasize the
importance of healthy living. Coupled with investments
like the recent announcement of $10 million for Holson
Forest Products in Roddickton and more than $16 million
for road work, our government has proven that we indeed
have never forgotten the people of the Great Northern
Peninsula."
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