Province, feds investing $1.5M in two HRM sports clubs

Both the Nova Scotia and federal governments are investing in two Halifax Regional Municipality sports clubs to help promote healthy and active lifestyles.

Together, the provincial and federal governments will put $1.46 million toward Lake Echo’s Orenda Canoe Club and Waverley’s Cheema Aquatic Club.

“Recreational facilities play a significant role in strengthening our communities and our province,” Deputy Premier Kelly Regan says in a news release on behalf of Suzanne Lohnes-Croft, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage. “Investing in places like Orenda Canoe Club and Cheema Aquatic Club means Nova Scotia families have access to upgraded community infrastructure that provide space for safe and inclusive recreational programming.”

From left to right: Darrell Samson, Nadine Lamontagne and Kelly Regan (Courtesy of Communications Nova Scotia)

Orenda Canoe Club will receive $200,000 from the provincial government and $160,000 from the federal government.

That funding will help the club complete the second phase of its renovation and community revitalization project. It’ll also help enhance the club’s current programs.

Orenda Canoe Club, which opened in 1977, is a non-profit that’s run by volunteers. It has around 150 members and it’s home to five Olympians.

“The Orenda Canoe Club is an important part of our community, so we are very excited to complete the second phase of our expansion and renovation project,” Shelley Leverman-Peddle, an Orenda Canoe Club commodore, says in the news release. “The investments announced today will ensure our continued success, and through us, the success of youth, competitive athletes and our community.”

Cheema Aquatic Club will see $500,000 from the Nova Scotia government. The federal government is giving $600,000 to the club through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program — a more than $33 billion program to help communities that suffered from COVID-19.

The HRM is also investing $20,000 in Cheema Aquatic Club.

That club will put its funding toward expanding and retrofitting its Frank Garner Boat House Facility. That facility was built in 2013 and offers a boat storage space, weight room, viewing space and two offices.

The funding will also help the club become more accessible, allowing for it to offer more inclusive programs such as para-paddling.

Cheema Aquatic Club’s website says it’s “a globally recognized canoe and kayak club providing opportunities for youth to achieve success at every level as athletes and in life.”

The club is also a non-profit and was founded in 1969; it focuses on sprint canoe and kayak racing for all ages.

“The funding announced today is the culmination of several years of work for volunteers at Cheema,” club commodore Nadine Lamontagne says in the news release. “This investment allows us to push forward our growth strategy for current programming, makes the launch of a new para-paddling initiative a reality and provides the capacity for Cheema to be a more engaged and supportive neighbour to the surrounding communities. We are beyond thrilled about what this means for the youth of our community.”