Construction Kicks Off for New Soccer Field and Seasonal Dome in Thornhill

May 07, 2010

THORNHILL, ON – The Town of Markham held an official ceremony today to break ground on construction for major improvements and additions to the St. Robert Catholic High School soccer field. Honourable Peter Kent, MP for Thornhill and Minister of State of Foreign Affairs for the Americas, Rezan Moridi, MPP for Richmond Hill on behalf of the Honourable Margarett Best, Ontario Minister of Health Promotion; and Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti are pleased to see this important community projectn get underway.
 
This project will incorporate an artificial turf field, seasonal dome and year-round field house, providing Markham residents and St. Robert Catholic High School students with the opportunity to play soccer during all seasons. The York Region Catholic District School Board is providing the land in this joint-
venture project.
 
The governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest up to $1 million toward the project. The Town of Markham will contribute the balance of the total eligible project cost of up to $3.2 million.
 
"Our government is working hard to improve recreation facilities like this one, create jobs and better Ontario communities," said Minister Kent. "The enhancement of this soccer field will allow even more families, user groups and visitors to access the facility year-round, which will benefit the health and wellness of children and adults alike.”
 
“We are putting infrastructure dollars into municipalities and in the hands partners who understand the needs of their communities best,” said MPP Moridi. “Our investments in Ontario’s recreational infrastructure will stimulate the economy, enhance local facilities and services and improve the health of individuals and communities in Ontario.”
 
“We applaud the efforts of the federal and provincial government in partnering with the Town of Markham to make this project a reality and we thank the York Catholic District School Board for doing its part by providing land for the field,” said Mayor Scarpitti. “This initiative represents one of a series of significant improvements championed by the Town of Markham to enhance the overall sport and leisure experience of our residents and to keep our youth active throughout all seasons.”
 
This project is one of more than 760 across the province that is moving forward, thanks to a joint federal-provincial investment of more than $380 million under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) Program in Ontario and the Ontario Recreation Program (Ontario REC). The governments of Canada and Ontario teamed up to support Ontario's communities and create jobs by improving recreational infrastructure, as these types of projects also encourage higher levels of participation in physical activity and community building.