A $2M outdoor recreation centre will be built in Iroquois Falls
Two companies are building a new outdoor recreation centre in the Town of Iroquois Falls – and officials are thrilled with the news.
“Especially after the last two years, recreation and focusing on healthy lifestyles for all demographics is more important than ever," said Brian Finner, director of recreational services for the Town of Iroquois Falls.
Validus Power Corporation and Tightline Construction will turn the existing Devonshire Park into a multi-faceted park. It will have a splash pad, basketball, tennis and pickleball courts and an accessible playground.
“No matter if you have money or not, it’s for everybody and that touches my heart," said Tory Delaurier, mayor of Iroquois Falls.
"Validus and Tightline Construction, they made my dream come true and our residents’ dream come true."
Children playing in the park during the announcement said they are especially excited about the splash pad.
“This might be, like, the best out of all the things I could possibly do in this town," said Elaina Kollmeita.
The Centre will be named after Leo Bechard, a former resident who happens to be the father-in-law of Validus' president and CEO Todd Shortt.
“I know it would have been very near and dear to his heart that whatever we did for the community would revolve around recreation," said Shortt.
The investment is $2 million and town officials said they are grateful to add to the quality of life in the community.
“We’re close to mines … in a quiet, safer community," said Delaurier.
"I’m not saying the other communities aren’t safe, but we’re very safe. Just travel 45 minutes to Timmins, or half an hour to Cochrane, 20 minutes to Matheson, we’re in a central location to everybody, right, and cost of living is cheap here. Our taxes aren’t that high.”
The plan is to begin construction next spring and wrap up before winter. Residents are reminded the design is a work in progress and could change.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.