OREANDA-NEWS. The YMCA of Newfoundland and Labrador will undertake upgrades that will help reduce energy consumption, thanks in part to an investment from the Government of Canada.  Nick Whalen, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today announced a $150,000 contribution through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program (CIP 150) for energy conservation upgrades to the YMCA facility in St. John’s.

The project includes energy retrofits of electrical and mechanical systems, which will reduce power consumption, decrease heat from lighting, reduce cooling costs, and contribute to an overall reduced environmental footprint at the facility. The YMCA is a multi-service charity serving communities across Newfoundland and Labrador for over 160 years, including 20 locations throughout the Northeast Avalon with over 20,000 participants annually. Its core programs are health fitness and aquatics, child care, day camp, and employment and enterprise.

As part of the recently launched Atlantic Growth Strategy, the Government of Canada and the four Atlantic provincial governments are committed to supporting infrastructure projects in communities across the region. This investment build on this commitment. Communities prosper when all people have affordable and accessible gathering spaces to find support and enrich their quality of life.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada believes that public investment in community and recreational infrastructure projects strengthens our communities by upgrading the facilities and areas that bring us together and foster the well-being of Canadians. CIP 150 investments also promote a clean-growth economy by supporting projects that contribute to a cleaner environment like this project with the YMCA of Newfoundland and Labrador.”

-       The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA

“The YMCA has a long history of bringing families together and strengthening communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, and this investment enables them to carry out their important work to build healthy communities in a more environmentally friendly manner.  CIP 150 projects help us celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary as well as support key recreational venues like the YMCA where our rich heritage and community spirit are proudly displayed by people of all ages.”

-       Nick Whalen, MP for St. John’s East