Several St.-Albert-area projects including a healing garden will move forward thanks to about $400,000 in federal matching grant money.
Cultural services director Kelly Jerrott said the funding announcement Tuesday means construction could start this summer.
"It will actually give us enough money now that we will be able to go ahead with the project right away," she said. "We'll probably start with the preliminary work with the contractor this winter so we're ready to go as soon as the weather cooperates."
Federal Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi and Edmonton-Centre MLA Randy Boissonnault announced more than $3 million worth of grants for capital-region communities at Edmonton City Hall this week from three funds associated with the country's 150th anniversary.
St. Albert's healing garden will get $137,000 from the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, and a storytelling project in the city will get $61,250 from the Canada 150 Fund, which provides funding for celebrations associated with the anniversary. The RiviÈre Qui Barre Agricultural Society will also get $200,000 from the infrastructure fund for arena renovations.
The Healing Garden project is meant to raise awareness of the city's history with Indian residential schools and promote indigenous culture and traditions.
It was initially planned to open in 2016 along the Sturgeon River across from St. Albert Place. Council had initially approved roughly $120,000 for the project in December 2015. A geotechnical study revealed concrete pilings would be needed under the sidewalk, however, and the projected cost ballooned to roughly $320,000.
Council defeated a motion to provide additional funding on July 11, 2016, asking administration and the committee to look for other potential sites and other potential funding sources. While council reaffirmed the site in September, it provided no further funding commitment leaving the project in limbo.
Healing garden committee chair Gwen Crouse said she is excited about the announcement, not just because it means the project will go ahead but because of the importance of the federal government getting involved in this project.
"It was recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that all orders of government were to acknowledge the residential schools," she said. "It's a big thing."
Further to just providing a place for those who were affected by the residential school system, she said it will be an important educational space for children in the community as the province moves to incorporate the country's residential school system into the curriculum.
Crouse said this process has already started, even with nothing on the site except a sign showing what is planned. Students have wanted to come to leave flowers at the site to mark the tragic history. Being able to put up educational signage about residential schools, including the two that operated in St. Albert, will help with that education process.
"They will have a place to come, and they'll be able to acknowledge and be right in our community, where we did have residential schools, so it will be meaningful for everyone coming in," she said.
Celebrating Community project
Rhonda Egar-Lee, the city's Canada 150 co-ordinator, said the $61,250 grant will help pay for work associated with a storytelling project in St. Albert this year.
What this entails is collecting 150 stories from Canada that will be gathered at different events and activities throughout the year.
There will be a song-writing contest March 1, for example, where participants will write songs about life in St. Albert and the significance of Canada 150. The top five entries will perform June 3 at the International Children's Festival.
Those artists' stories will be included among the 150 stories, some in video form and some in print form, which will be published on the city website.
Egar-Lee said she's in the process of planning other events, such as working with elementary schools in the city to have a contest for students to write a short story with the theme of examining the national anthem, O Canada.
The funding will also support a citywide block party planned for this summer. For more information about the city's Canada 150 plans, visit stalbert.ca/exp/Canada150.
Arena upgrades
An important community gathering space just outside St. Albert will get some federal funding support, as well.
The Riviere Qui Barre Agricultural Society was awarded $200,000 from the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Fund for improvements to the arena in that community.
Ag society business manager Celin Stenner said the money will be used for renovations to part of the building including the lobby, washrooms, kitchen, concession and meeting room, which are "in desperate need of an update."
The dressing rooms and ice area have been updated since the arena was built in 1974, but the rest hasn't been updated since then.
She said the grant will cover half the $400,000 project, with the ag society having raised the other half.
"It's pretty exciting for the community," she said. "In a small town there's not a lot else to do except come to the arena and watch hockey games."
The arena is also used in the off-season for ball hockey, and can be rented for other events throughout the year including a rib-cooking competition scheduled for May 27 this year.
