By Jeff Labine

P.A. benefits from Canada 150 funding

Jan 24, 2017 | 1:00 PM

New funding from the federal government is helping Prince Albert get ready for next year’s World Junior Mens’ Softball Championships.

The city is receiving $46,500 to install lights at Prime Ministers’ Park diamond two, which is now Kinsmen Field. This is the second sum of money coming from the Canada 150 Infrastructure fund the federal government put out in celebration of the country’s 150th birthday.

Mayor Greg Dionne said he was surprised the second application was approved.

“We already received $250,000 for the restoration program at Kinsmen Park,” he said. “We’re very pleased we got it, it was unexpected and we appreciate it.”

Dionne explained he was surprised because there’s such a demand for the new federal funding from municipalities all across the country.

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When it comes to funding for sports and recreational projects, he said there’s always requests but they specifically targeted Kinsmen Park to receive funding as it is a well-used area. The city had a chance to apply for additional funding so Dionne said the decision was made to focus on supporting Project Triple Play.

If more funding does become available, Dionne said the city has shovel ready projects waiting in the wings.

One of those projects is the twinning of the city’s water reservoir which is estimated to cost around $24 million. The plan is for the federal government to contribute $10 million with the city and province pitching in $7 million each.

The two reservoirs would hold about a week’s worth of water. Dionne said the importance of having backup water supply was shown during the major oil spill last year.

Another $2.4 million project would upgrade the reservoir.

“We do have to bring them up to standard so they can last a few more years,” he said. “As a city, we always have projects available.”

City hall isn’t the only one to jump on Canada’s big day.

Larry Fladager, CEO of the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber will celebrate its 130th anniversary alongside the nation’s birthday. He said the chamber will host an afternoon event highlighting the business community and sustainability.

He believes the business community in P.A. is in good shape.

“We’re redeveloping ourselves,” he said. “We transitioned from a pulp mill town to a city that’s becoming a hub for regional services, professional services, shopping [and] health care. We’re really redefining this community.”

Jeff Labine is paNOW’s health and education reporter. He can be reached at Jeff.Labine@jpbg.ca or tweet him @labinereporter.