The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Thompson MLA Steve Ashton recently joined Mayor Tim Johnston and invited guests in the the not-yet-finished Thompson Regional Community Centre (TRCC) to announce that the provincial government, which had already contributed $4.5 million to the three phases of the recreation centre reconstruction, was kicking in another six figures. 'I'm very pleased to announce today on behalf of our provincial government, including my colleague Ron Lemieux [minister of local government], who wished he could be here as well today, but we are announcing additional support of $1.2 million,' said Ashton. 'It's very much going to be a community meeting place. I also think it sends a signal as well, too, and that is, no matter what happens in Thompson with some of the uncertainties coming up, we're here for a long time. Thompson contributes a lot to this province and I really love making these announcements because it really also says that the province recognizes that and gives something back.' Johnston said the additional money would ensure that the project, which he expects to be finished before its advertised completion date of fall 2012, would include all the extra amenities and touches that those who spearheaded the project from its planning stages in the late 1990s to the completion of the two previous phases, always wanted but weren't sure they would get. 'I can't tell you how much this announcement means to this project,' he said, thanking Ashton for the work he had done in his role as a member of the government in getting funding for the TRCC. 'There's no one in that government that has done more to promote this facility and the city of Thompson in government than you have Steve and I thank you very much for that.' Difference Johnston then presented Ashton with one of the hockey sweaters presented to all the organizations that contributed to the project, though it was different in one respect. Unlike the other sweaters, this one bears the name Ashton on the back rather than the name of an organization. 'This sweater has the name of the individual who made it possible,' the mayor said. Johnston also reiterated that the decision to move ahead on the recreation centre and to locate the new University College of the North campus beside it was the right one. 'This was the right project. It was absolutely the right site for the combined Thompson Regional Community Centre and the University College of the North. We're going to protect that [Red Sangster baseball] diamond out there as we've always talked about as long as we possibly can.' 'Both facilities together and linking to some of our existing facilities will just make this facility as a standout facility for the City of Thompson,' said city manager Gary Ceppetelli. Provincial funding for the project comes from the Municipal Recreation Fund component of the Building Manitoba Fund, which supports municipalities outside of Winnipeg to undertake projects that include construction or improvement of municipal recreation facilities such as recreation centres, community halls, parks, libraries, arenas and pools. _ Ian Graham, Thompson Citizen
