News Release

MONCTON (GNB) – Provincial, federal, and municipal officials announced funding today in Moncton to support upgrades at the Aberdeen Cultural Centre and to build a multi-functional outdoor synthetic field at la Fondation de l’école l’Odyssée.

“Investments in community infrastructure and cultural spaces contributes to the overall well-being of residents,” said Greg Turner, minister responsible for Opportunities NB. “Building vibrant and sustainable communities has been a priority for our government since 2018. I am pleased to be making this important funding announcement for the residents of Moncton and the region.”

Turner spoke on behalf of Réjean Savoie, minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation.

The upgrades at the Aberdeen Cultural Centre will reduce the centre’s heating costs by 25 per cent and improve accessibility.

The provincial government is contributing $55,000 to the Aberdeen Cultural Centre and the federal government is providing $355,000.

The construction of a multi-functional outdoor synthetic field at la Fondation de l’école L'Odyssée will provide the city with the capacity to host large-scale sporting events.

The provincial government is providing $450,000 for the field and the federal government is contributing $250,000.

“Strong, vibrant communities in New Brunswick are a critical part of a robust and inclusive economy,” said federal Veterans Affairs Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor. “The federal government is committed to ensuring that everyone can be an active participant in their communities on an equal basis. I am proud that our government is supporting these important and inclusive recreational projects that will benefit the region for years to come.”

Petitpas Taylor spoke on behalf of federal Rural Economic Development Minister Gudie Hutchings, who is also minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge.

“Thanks to this major investment, the Aberdeen Cultural Centre will reduce its ecological footprint and offer the region's cultural community a much safer and more functional space, while improving its accessibility, particularly for people with reduced mobility and for production companies which use the centre regularly,” said Annie France Noël, president of the centre’s board of directors. “More specifically, the replacement of some 50 windows and the installation of a new roof will enable the centre to make significant savings in heating costs. The construction of a new ramp for people with reduced mobility and for the heavy equipment of the productions presented at the centre, as well as the complete restoration of the centre's main staircase, located on the Botsford Street side of the entrance, are certainly the most important elements in our desire to make the Aberdeen Cultural Centre much safer and more accessible for its users.”

“This partnership is important for the students at École L'Odyssée and for Moncton's French-speaking community,” said Monique Bourque, co-president of the project with la Fondation de l’école l’Odyssée. “We have waited a long time for this high-quality sports facility and are looking forward to its official opening this autumn.”