Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Centre Ready for TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games

ST. CATHARINES, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 22, 2015) - Department of Canadian Heritage

Rick Dykstra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Member of Parliament (St. Catharines), on behalf of the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), today announced funding of up to $714,397 from the Government of Canada for upgrades to the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Centre, a historic world-class rowing facility and host to the annual Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, including up to $250,000 to improve the entranceway to the spectator grandstand.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada has committed up to $714,397 toward renovations to the facility, including the installation of a new lane marking system (buoys), the removal and replacement of an existing bridge linking the rowing facility to the mainland, and the improvement of the entranceway to the spectator grandstands. This funding is part of the federal government's commitment of up to $500 million to the Toronto 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games. The City of St. Catharines contributed a total of $364,883 to the project.
• The Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course will be the site for 14 men's and women's rowing events at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games, with competition scheduled for July 11 to 15. After the Games, the Royal Canadian Henley will remain the home of North America's largest rowing regatta, which it has hosted for more than 130 years.
• During the Year of Sport in Canada, the Government of Canada is encouraging Canadians to participate in sport according to their talents and interests. In Economic Action Plan 2015, the Government doubled the Children's Fitness Tax Credit to $1,000 to help offset the costs of parents enrolling their children in organized sport. At the same time, it will be investing an additional $20 million in the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic athletes, to ensure they continue to have what they need to push for the podium today and in the future.

Quotes

"During the Year of Sport in Canada, we are celebrating our athletes and the role they play in our country's reputation as a leading sport nation. Our rowers will continue a long tradition of athletic excellence at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games, and our Government is proud to be able to support them and the local community through our investment in upgrades to the historic Henley Rowing Centre. I look forward to cheering our athletes on from the upgraded viewing areas in a few weeks' time."

-The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport)

"It's an honour for our city to be hosting the rowing competitions at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games. The Government of Canada is proud to have invested in this historic course, which will not only allow Canadians to compete here at home during the Year of Sport in Canada, but also enable them to continue to train for decades to come."

-Rick Dykstra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Member of Parliament (St. Catharines)

"This is an historic event for St. Catharines. With some of the world's best rowers visiting our hometown this summer, this is an opportunity to showcase our city and the Royal Canadian Henley course as a world-class sports tourism destination. This investment will carry legacy value for generations to come."

-Walter Sendzik, Mayor, City of St. Catharines.

"Bringing the Games to life requires significant help from our government partners. Their investment in Henley not only contributes to the operation of these games, but also ensures that Canadians for generations can compete and train in this storied sport in this historic location."

-Saad Rafi, chief executive officer, TORONTO 2015

Associated Links

Canada.ca/Sport

Year of Sport

City of St. Catharines

Toronto 2015

Royal Canadian Henley Regatta

Children's Fitness Tax Credit

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