The community hall in North West River will see some interior and exterior upgrades with the help of $13,500 provided through the Provincial Government�s 2010 Capital Grant Program.

"The facility will be made more accessible through the installation of a wheelchair ramp, while interior renovations � including the replacement of wallboard, interior doors, washroom and lighting fixtures � will make the community hall a more inviting environment in which residents can enjoy recreational activities," said the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. "These upgrades are specifically designed to enable older adults to access healthy living programming and engage in social activities which contribute to their overall well-being."

The Town of North West River is among more than 40 municipalities, recreation commissions, and community-based organizations throughout the province which have received funding of up to $15,000 to upgrade their recreation and sport infrastructure through these latest Capital Grant Program investments.

"I am extremely pleased with the announcement of this funding for the North West River Community Centre," said the Honourable John Hickey, Minister of Labrador Affairs and MHA for Lake Melville. "This centre has long been a part of the everyday lives of the people, particularly seniors, who live in this beautiful community. The resulting repairs, upgrades and enhancements will make this vital community space more accessible and will help ensure it is enjoyed for years to come."

For more information on the Capital Grant Program, visit: www.tcr.gov.nl.ca/tcr/sports/capital_grant_program.html.

Budget 2010: The Right Investments � For Our Children and Our Future provides an additional $300,000 to the Capital Grant Program, bringing the total annual investment in this program to $1.3 million. Since the introduction of the Provincial Government�s recreation and sport strategy, Active, Healthy Newfoundland and Labrador (2007), more than $70 million in new funding has been committed for recreation and sport infrastructure and programming.

- 30 -

Media contacts: