Rugby Canada Training Facility Announced
LANGFORD, BC – John Duncan, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Island North was joined today by Stewart Young, Mayor of Langford, and Graham Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Rugby Canada to announce that the Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence – High Performance Training Centre Project has been selected for priority funding consideration under the Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component.
The training centre will be based in the Vancouver Island community of Langford, which is also the home of Rugby Canada. The proposed 19,000 square foot, two-storey facility will have the capacity to have all of Rugby Canada’s teams train in one location. The building will be used by high-performance amateur athletes as well as the general public.
The training centre will include a 7,000 square foot gymnasium, change rooms with shower and bathroom facilities; recovery and stretching rooms, including one with hydro-therapy facilities; a kitchen/dining and lounge area; meeting, office and storage space; six one-bedroom studio units; a therapy clinic, a reception area and the Canada Rugby Hall of Fame.
Quick Facts
· Government of Canada will provide up to $3 million towards the project under the Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component. This funding is conditional on the project meeting applicable federal eligibility requirements with respect to the Building Canada Fund and the signing of a contribution agreement.
· The City of Langford will be responsible for $2.5 million.
· Rugby Canada has committed $899,956 towards the project.
· Total project cost: $7,840,000.
Quotes
“Our Government is proud to invest in the Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence – High Performance Training Centre Project in the City of Langford. The Centre will continue to support the training of Canada’s best amateur rugby athletes while also offering recreational opportunities to the general public that will help maintain their high quality of life. As a result the Centre will serve as an attractive resource that will draw visitors and residents for years to come.”
John Duncan,
Minister of State and Chief Government Whip
Member of Parliament for Vancouver Island North
“I would like to thank the Federal Government for this generous grant creating a Centre of Excellence for Rugby Canada to ensure that these elite athletes have a place to train and prepare for a Olympic gold medal in 2016”
Mayor Stewart Young
City of Langford
“This is a major game changing investment for us by the Government of Canada. Current and future generations of athletes will reap enormous benefit from training at the Centre of Excellence. We are thankful for the federal government’s commitment to rugby. ”
Graham Brown,
Chief Executive Officer, Rugby Canada
