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Profiles of projects in Manitoba
- Austin
- Birds Hill Provincial Park
- Brandon
- Brookdale
- Gilbert Plains
- Grandview
- Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park
- Lorette
- Moosehorn
- Winnipeg
Community Hall Facelift and Expansion
Project location: Austin, Manitoba
Like many small towns, Austin, Manitoba, faced challenges in securing financial support for infrastructure projects, including any renovations to the town's aging community hall.
Now, thanks to $108,217 from the Communities Component of the federal Building Canada Fund, the Austin Community Building has received a new roof, dressing rooms and a 40-seat conference room that will include a historical tribute to pioneers and war veterans.
Construction also includes a new hall with expanded seating capacity, better lighting and sound. The goal is to accommodate a wider variety of functions and help attract more entertainment events to the area.
Neil Christoffersen, Reeve of the Rural Municipality of North Norfolk, in which Austin is located, is delighted with the impact the hall renovation will have on his community's social and cultural life. "The improvements are expected to produce a 20 percent increase in the facility's use by attracting more local functions as well as new recreation and arts programming."
Federal contribution: $108,217
Pine Ridge Bicycle Trail Upgrades
Project location: Birds Hill Provincial Park, Manitoba
Thanks to funding from the Economic Action Plan's Infrastructure Stimulus fund, the Pine Ridge Bicycle Trail in Manitoba is being expanded from eight to 12 feet in width.
The Trail is in Birds Hill Provincial Park and is located in Manitoba's Interlake Region. It is extremely popular and heavily used for cycling, rollerblading, walking and jogging by local residents of all ages.
This 7.2-kilometre paved trail winds through parkland and along Kingfisher Lake, providing users with opportunities for both recreation and outdoor fitness. The upgraded trail means a safer, smoother environment for trail users, especially for family-style bikes with child carriers.
Federal contribution: $350,000
Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium
Project location: Brandon, Manitoba
The Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium in Brandon is one of the city's main cultural venues. Thanks to $500,000 in combined funding from the federal and provincial governments, the Auditorium is having its lighting system upgraded and the building's external entry podium replaced.
The theatre's lighting has been replaced together with the related electrical system. A new entry podium will improve access to the building and modernize its overall appearance, while correcting safety concerns associated with the current entry.
These improvements are helping the City of Brandon promote the region's great variety of arts and entertainment. "The Auditorium is one of our main cultural venues and is in need of substantial upgrades," says Brandon Mayor Dave Burgess, "which would not have been possible without the assistance of the federal and provincial governments."
Federal contribution: $250,000
Supporting Canada's Smaller Communities
Ensuring Water Quality
Project location: Brookdale, Manitoba
With $354,611 from the federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, Brookdale, Manitoba, near Brandon in the southwest corner of the province, has taken steps to ensure the safety of its potable water supply and upgrade sewage collection in the municipality of 38 households.
Before work began on the new sewage collection system, Brookdale households maintained private septic systems, but drew their drinking water from shallow wells nearby. The potential existed for contamination from both the aging septic systems in the village and improperly handled ground water runoff.
Brad Wells, Reeve of North Cypress, the municipality that encompasses Brookdale, pointed to the importance of programs like the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, for the continued existence of smaller communities across Canada. The funding allows "the town to grow, benefiting our municipality and local rural development." Reeve Wells went on to say that "without this funding, the project would not have been possible."
Federal contribution: $354,611
Clean, Safe Water
Project location: Gilbert Plains and Grandview, Manitoba
Two rural municipalities bordering on Riding Mountain National Park in the parkland area of western Manitoba can now boast about the quality and quantity of drinking water in their communities.
Mayor Ernie Gurica of Grandview calls it the best water quality in the province; Mayor Lyle Smith of nearby Gilbert Plains speaks of now having a safe water reserve.
Thanks to $723,333 from the federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the two municipalities were able to upgrade the area's water treatment and storage capacity.
The project involved expanding water reservoirs and converting treatment facilities into upgraded pumping stations. Leaking water mains are being replaced, power generators put in place in case of an emergency and steps taken to protect the two communities in case of a drought.
The changes mean the area now has the safest drinking water possible and supplies meet current and projected 20-year demand requirements. Firefighting capabilities have also been greatly improved resulting in a renewed level of confidence in the safety of the two communities.
Federal contribution: $723,333
Expanding Wastewater Treatment, and Protecting Wetlands
Project location: Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park, Manitoba
The wildlife along the western shore of Lake Winnipeg, in Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park, shares environmentally sensitive wetlands with cottagers and other park users.
Now, with $700,000 from the federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the province and cottage association are expanding the existing sewage lagoon, and ensuring that wastewater returning to the surrounding wetlands and Lake Winnipeg meets environmental standards. Lowering phosphate levels is a priority.
About 450 cottages, two picnic grounds, six outhouses and one general store use holding tanks. Contractors routinely empty the tanks and truck the sludge to a two-celled wastewater lagoon, also within the park boundaries. Additional cottage sites have been approved for development.
Lynda Grayson, a member of one of the committees working on the project, speaks of the importance of educating cottagers about the benefits of protecting Lake Winnipeg. "Current studies show that managed wetlands benefit the lake, wildlife and the enjoyment of the outdoors by all people. We hope Grindstone will be a shining example of this."Federal contribution: $700,000
New, Safe Water Supply
Project location: Lorette, Manitoba
With the help of $600,000 from the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund, the Rural Municipality of Taché has taken steps to resolve ongoing water quality issues in Lorette, the largest residential community within its boundaries.
The federal funding helped drill a new water supply well for Lorette and construct a one million-litre concrete reservoir and pumping station with filtration and disinfection capacity.
Previously served by three municipal wells and hundreds of private wells, Lorette residents had put up with boil-water orders after spring flooding and heavy rains. With the new well and reservoir complete, existing municipal wells and private wells have been decommissioned.
An earlier phase of work extended water distribution lines and added service connectors, gate valves and fire hydrants. The project eliminates potable water contamination in Lorette's municipal system and extends service to more of the town's 2,100 residents.
Federal contribution: $600,000
Wellman Lake Water Treatment Plant
Project location: West of Moosehorn, Manitoba
The Wellman Lake Water Treatment Plant, which is located in a central Manitoba park, has reached the end of its expected life expectancy. Through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the Government of Canada is contributing $100,000 to upgrade deteriorating infrastructure and address environmental and public safety concerns. The improvements will also help ensure that the facility can handle increasing demands, including from a nearby campground expansion.
Federal contribution: $100,000
Manitoba Centennial Centre Refurbishments
Project location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Manitoba Centennial Centre is a long-standing and important cultural and performing arts complex located in the heart of Winnipeg. The Government of Canada is contributing $2.5 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund to support capital repairs that will help restore the aging complex and ensure the safety and comfort of visiting patrons, staff and tenants. Better infrastructure tosupport performances at the centre, as well as improvements to the building, grounds and parking facilities, will be made possible through this project funding.
Federal contribution: $2,500,000
United Way of Winnipeg
Project location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
For the past 25 years, United Way of Winnipeg has leased the same space at 5 Donald Street, during which time its role has evolved from being one of a fund raiser to one focused on bringing people together to find solutions to Winnipeg's most pressing social problems.
This project involves the construction of a new three-storey 1,858 m2 building for United Way's Winnipeg operation in the downtown area on Main Street at the Disraeli Freeway, between Pacific and Alexander Avenue. The 2nd and 3rd floors of this new building will house the agency's staff, while the main floor will accommodate professional development, training and volunteer opportunities in the non-profit sector. More than bricks and mortar, the new building will enhance United Way's work and broaden its reach and impact in the community.
United Way is committed to the community; additionally, the move to a more central location is United Way's contribution to the revitalization of Winnipeg's downtown.
"Today's United Way is comprised of thousands of volunteers from every part of our community – along with committees, councils and innovative community partnerships working year round. The new location will provide us with the space needed to support all of this work, and to forge and support new partnerships and collaborations," Allan Fineblit, Incoming Chair, United Way's Board of Trustees said. "With the federal and provincial funding support, United Way is able to ensure that under no circumstances donations from United Way's annual campaign will be used to raise the additional local funds for the project.
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Federal contribution: $3,333,333
Highway Overhaul Creates Smoother, Safer Trans-Canada
Project location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
It’s one of the most heavily-used stretches of four-lane highway in the province, handling a steady stream of commercial and tourist traffic. It links Manitoba’s major cities and connects Manitoba with the rest of Canada to the east and west.
Part of the Trans-Canada Highway, also known in Manitoba as Provincial Trunk Highway 1, has now received an overhaul.
With $30 million from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the Province of Manitoba went to work in the summer of 2009 reconstructing about 30 kilometres of the Trans-Canada from the Perimeter Highway around Winnipeg east as far as Ste. Anne and Provincial Trunk Highway 12. One goal of the reconstruction was to prevent costly repairs associated with the annual spring thaw of the roadbed.
Motorists now enjoy a smoother ride with less wear and tear on their vehicles. Commuters into Winnipeg have a safer ride to work, and the province has greatly reduced the need for costly piecemeal repairs.
According to the Province, the reconstruction of Provincial Trunk Highway 1 created about 180 jobs.
Federal contribution: $30,000,000
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