For over 40 years, the Association Sportive et Communautaire du Centre-Sud has been providing local recreational and sports activities to residents of the Ville-Marie borough. Some major expansions have just been given the green light.
The provincial government will be providing nearly $2 million to the Yvon Deschamps Foundation, the charitable group that funds the rec centre located just south of La Fontaine Park.
This funding will add to the foundation’s goal of $10 million; half of which has already been raised.
The recreational centre will see an expansion of 10,000 square feet across four floors including:
- A new room dedicated to psychomotricity
- Two new activity rooms
- Expanding the main gym
- Expanding the banquet hall
- Two new change rooms and an equipment room adjacent to the gymnasium
- Additional administrative offices
Over 400,000 people use the centre’s facilities each year; half of which are under the age of 18.
For Judi Richards, co-president of the fundraising campaign, these extensions could not have come at a better time.
“We’ve just heard that 30 per cent of kids in this area [under the age of six] are not ready to go to school,” she said.
“When they get there, they are just a little behind.”
Richards added that could stick with them throughout their schooling, discouraging them and potentially leading to lower chances of graduation.
The recreational centre aims to expand their reach for children within that age range, providing even more educational and fun activities.
“We want to make sure that they are stimulated [before getting to school] and for that reason, we really have to do this extension,” Richards said.
The government’s contribution to the centre is part of its program to improve recreational and sports facilities across the province.
At this point, it has already invested $50 million into over 100 projects throughout Quebec to build and renovate facilities.
“I’m happy about this project,” Martin Coiteux, minister responsible for the region of Montreal, said.
“It will certainly favour the dynamism and vitality of our community by enabling residents to have secure facilities adapted to their needs.”
Comments