It has taken a partnership of three levels of government to make the Arthur community centre more accessible.
Every community has its ups and downs, but in Arthur, that’s a good thing. On March 12, Wellington North held an official ceremony to celebrate the completion of upgrades to the centre.
Perth-Wellington MP Gary Schellenberger and MPP John Wilkinson, Wellington North Mayor Ray Tout, and Wellington County Warden Chris White, were pleased to see the infrastructure project reach completion.
County councillor Gary Williamson represented the county on behalf of White.
The podium was shared by councillor Sherry Burke, chair man of Wellington North’s recreation committee, and Arthur facility manager Tom Bowden.
Tout said with the help of the provincial and federal government as well as the county, the community could celebrate upgrades. These include a new elevator, an accessible washroom on the second floor, and repaved entry to make the building more accessible. The parking lot was resurfaced with improved drainage and the floor of the hall was replaced.
Tout said, “On April 29, 1976, the Arthur arena was condemned and it was closed in August.”
He said area residents and the surroundings townships worked together to build the current facility.
“They saw a vision, a vision for the future. This is the 30th anniversary of burning the mortgage at the Optimists’ New Year’s Eve Party.”
The federal and provincial governments each committed up to $214,384. Cash was contributed by the Township of Wellington North and the County of Wellington for a total project cost of $649,650.
Schellenberger stated, “One of the best parts of my job is to see these types of projects completed. The upgrades to the Arthur and area community centre will encourage users to pursue healthier lifestyles and enjoy a modern recreation facility,” said Schellenberger.
Wilkinson said, “The recent upgrades at the Arthur and area community centre will mean that all residents will have access to this improved community hub. Open Ontario, while stimulating the local economy, is supporting our local trades and businesses, and helping to promote a stronger, healthier rural community.”
Wilkinson added “It’s always nice to be in Canada’s most patriotic village. When it comes right down to it, all communities, whether big or small, need a place where they can get together. That is what community centres represent.”
Wilkinson said the most important thing about the infrastructure funding partnership “is that the decisions as to which projects would be done was made at the local level, because they are closest to the people and could determine what would be in the best interests of the people of Wellington North.”
He said the idea was to allow all the residents of Arthur to be able to use the community centre. “I’m proud that the province is one of the partners of this project.”
“This is a fantastic addition to our facilities,” said Tout. “The help from the federal and provincial governments, as well as the County of Wellington has enabled us to improve this facility for seniors and people with disabilities. This multi-use community centre gives us an even greater opportunity to attract venues like seniors’ Olympics, special Olympic games for Ontario, and conferences.”
Tout said, “This is your community; this is your community centre. We’re always striving to improve it for your use. The community is growing, and we’re moving forward.”
White said as part of a prepared News release, “The County of Wellington is committed to being responsive to the needs of all its residents. The county strives to become barrier-free by providing services and facilities that are accessible to all,” .
The project is one of more than 760 across the province that are moving forward thanks to a joint federal-provincial investment of more than $380-million under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program in Ontario and the Ontario Recreation program (Ontario REC). The governments of Canada and Ontario teamed up to support Ontario’s communities and create jobs by improving recreational infrastructure, as these types of projects also encourage higher levels of participation in physical activity and community building. For more information on this initiative, please visit www.rinc-on.ca.
Prior to the event a free community breakfast was served by members of the Arthur Lions Club.
Also on display was the newly arrived Arthur Fire Department pumper truck which came into town the night before. After the event was a performance by children’s entertainer Dan the Music Man.
