The Town of Tecumseh was recently advised by the Provincial Government that the Town’s $54M Multi-Use Sportsplex/Community Hub project was not nominated for federal review and approval under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) Community, Culture and Recreation (CCR) Stream.

“The news is certainly disappointing as we believe we have a strong project proposal,” said Gary McNamara, Mayor of Tecumseh. “The goal of the project was to meet the needs of our community and region by improving the quality of community recreational facilities and offering amenities like the indoor FIFA sized soccer field, that currently does not exist this side of London. This decision will not stop us though, we will continue to look at other opportunities to deliver this facility to the Town and the region.”

The intake for funding through the ICIP, CCR stream was highly competitive, and the total dollar amount of projects submitted reached upwards of $10 billion. The total available joint funding (federal-provincial-applicant) was nearly $1 billion. The Multi-Use Sportsplex/Community Hub has been a goal of Tecumseh since 2016, and was championed by Council as a way to provide a recreational facility that was not duplicated in the region. The proposal also included a partnership with Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) to provide the community with a satellite cardio rehab facility.

The decision on next steps will be discussed at Council on September 8 where it is expected that Council will provide direction. Administration will provide some alternatives and a decision will follow a review of facility components and alternatives. This will include how the Town may phase components of the project over time. Town Administration will continue to look at other grant opportunities to assist the goal of making a multi-use facility a reality in Tecumseh. HDGH will continue to partner with the Town on the cardio rehab facility as part of an expanded recreation complex as well as fundraising committee co-chairs, Mark and Jane Renaud for the facility.

“It certainly was not the outcome the Town was looking for,” said Paul Anthony, Director Parks & Recreation Services. “A detailed grant application was completed and submitted, ensuring all federal criteria and provincial objectives were met. The ICIP Community, Culture and Recreation intake was a highly competitive process and as such funding approval was not guaranteed.”

Although disappointing, Council and Administration are committed to work with community partners, stakeholders and upper levels of government, with the goal of providing the residents of Tecumseh with a Multi-Use Sportsplex/Community Hub that will meet both the present and future community needs

Information on this and all Town of Tecumseh news and events is available at www.tecumseh.ca. Twitter (@TownofTecumseh), and Facebook (Town of Tecumseh). All updates will be posted on our website and users may register for regular updates using the online subscription service at https://subscribe.tecumseh.ca/subscribe.

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Media Contacts:

Marg Misek-Evans  Chief Administrative Officer 519-735-2184 Ext. 111

Paul Anthony Director Parks & Recreation Services 519-735-4756 Ext. 423