Tourism, Culture and Recreation
Municipal Affairs
August 1, 2013
The Provincial Government and the Town of Stephenville have reached an agreement on the ownership and operation of the West Coast Training Centre. With financial assistance of $515,000 from the departments of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and Municipal Affairs, the town will undertake renovations and upgrades to the facility and assume ownership of the building.
“We are delighted that our negotiations have been successful with the Town of Stephenville, and we have reached an agreement regarding the training centre that will allow its continued operation,” said the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. “We understand the importance physical activity plays in the lives of our residents, and we will continue to support sport and recreation in our towns and communities.”
The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs, said municipal infrastructure to support recreation in municipalities is a priority for the Provincial Government.
“The improvement of recreation infrastructure is a key priority of the Provincial Government, and has been a driver for a number of investments in rural communities in the past decade,” said Minister O’Brien. “These facilities are an important hub for residents and families, and we are pleased to invest in the West Coast Training Centre so that the town can continue to maintain it as a focal point long into the future.”
The Provincial Government has been working with the Town of Stephenville on potential solutions regarding the ownership and operation of the West Coast Training Centre for the past several months.
“The people of Stephenville clearly articulated their desire to keep the training centre open and find a solution that was acceptable to everyone involved,” said the Honourable Joan Shea, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills and MHA for St. George’s – Stephenville East. “Our government listened to these concerns, and we are satisfied that our efforts have resulted in a positive outcome for all stakeholders.”
The Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier and MHA for Port au Port, Tony Cornect, said the new arrangement represents a satisfactory outcome for both the people of the area and government.
“We are pleased with the deal that has been negotiated between the town and the Provincial Government, as the West Coast Training Centre is an important centre for the area,” said Mr. Cornect. “Working co-operatively with the town, we feel this new arrangement represents a win-win for everyone involved.”
Media contacts:
| Melony O’Neill Director of Communications Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation 709-729-0928, 689-0928 moneill@gov.nl.ca |
Hugh Donnan Director of Communications Department of Municipal Affairs 709-729-1983, 725-6511 hughdonnan@gov.nl.ca |
Janine Carter Constituency Assistant to the Honourable Joan Shea MHA for St. George’s–Stephenville East 709-643-8663 janinecarter@gov.nl.ca |
Tess Burke Communications Manager Government Members Office 709-729-3551, 699-2402 tessburke@gov.nl.ca |
2013 08 01 2:05 p.m.