Regional Development Corporation

Belleisle Valley Community Centre officially opens

Sept. 8, 2008

SPRINGFIELD (CNB) – The Belleisle Valley Community Centre officially opened here on Saturday, Sept. 6. Tourism and Parks Minister Stuart Jamieson, Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson and Peter Pope, president of Belleisle Valley Community Centre Inc., were in attendance.

“The Province of New Brunswick would like to congratulate the community of Belleisle on the opening of its new community centre,” said Jamieson. “Our government’s investment in this community project will help us work toward self-sufficiency.”

The 405-square-metre (4,500-square-foot) centre was constructed next to the Springfield Volunteer Fire Department. It will serve about 5,000 area residents each year as a gathering place for community and area activities; for banquets; and as an emergency centre.

“Our government recognizes that modern infrastructure is vital to communities and the people who live and work in them,” said Thompson. “We are very pleased to have been part of the team that helped to make this regional facility a reality.”

The Province of New Brunswick, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Belleisle Valley Community Centre Inc. each contributed one-third, or $246,462, toward the project. This investment was made under the Canada-New Brunswick Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF). The Province of New Brunswick, through the Regional Development Corporation, contributed an extra $75,000, bringing the provincial government’s total contribution to $321,462.

“The community of Belleisle is pleased to celebrate the opening of this facility, which will have a long-lasting impact on this area,” said Pope. “We are grateful for the support of the federal and provincial governments as well as for the support of a private benefactor, Mr. Ralph Bates. As a community, we thank all who made this day a reality.”