December 18, 2009

(CAMBRIDGE), ONTARIO – The Governments of Canada and Ontario today announced an investment in partnership with the YMCA of Cambridge to make improvements at the Chaplin Family YMCA. The total investment of $1,030,000 will help to create local jobs in Cambridge, while enhancing the YMCA and improving its energy efficiency. 

To make the announcement, the Hon. Gary Goodyear, Member of Parliament for Cambridge & North Dumfries, and the Hon. John Milloy, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener-Centre joined John Haddock, CEO of the YMCA of Cambridge and Laurie Hornell, Chair of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Cambridge.

“This investment will help the YMCA continue to provide recreational activities and services to people in our community for years to come,” said Minister Goodyear.  “Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government has announced an historic number of projects to create jobs and strengthen the economy, including many here in Cambridge.”

“Today’s investment in the Chaplin Family YMCA renovation and rehabilitation project is yet again another demonstration of the McGuinty government’s commitment to strengthening our communities’ not-for-profit sector in Cambridge,” said MPP Milloy. “This investment will not only help deliver valued community services, help create jobs, and stimulate our local economy, but will also improve the quality of life for residents in Cambridge.”

“We greatly appreciate the federal and provincial funding,” said Laurie Hornell, Chair of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Cambridge. “We try to keep our facilities like-new and these grants help the Chaplin Family YMCA to do so. Key pieces of its infrastructure are being updated much sooner than would otherwise be the case which will ensure that the Chaplin Family YMCA will continue to be a centre of our community for healthy children and families.”

The project includes parking lot lighting upgrades that will increase safety and energy efficiency and repairs to the External Insulation Finishing system which will extend the building’s life.

The Governments of Canada and Ontario and the YMCA of Cambridge are each investing one-third of the total project cost.  Canada’s funding is part of its new national Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, under Canada’s Economic Action Plan unveiled in January 2009.  Ontario’s matching contribution is provided through the 2009 Ontario Budget – Confronting the Challenge: Building Our Economic Future.

Canada and Ontario are working together to create jobs and boost the economy, while making significant investments that help communities improve their infrastructure.