Alberta is getting $33.6 million to help fund upgrades to three sporting facilities, thanks to the federal government. Adam van Koeverden, Canada’s secretary of state (sport), made the announcement in Calgary on Monday at the Olympic Oval. The Olympic Oval will get the bulk of the funding – with $26 million going toward the rehabilitation and modernization of the structure, which sits on the University of Calgary campus and hosted the 1988 Olympic Winter Games. The province will match that $26 million, helping boost the total funding for the Olympic Oval to $52 million. Andrew Boitchenko, Alberta’s minister of tourism and sport, says the province is happy to help the Olympic Oval by matching the federal funding. “Together, we are ensuring the Olympic Oval continues to provide world-class training opportunities for high-performance athletes. This investment reflects our shared commitment to supporting excellence in sport and strengthening this legacy for generations to come.” University of Calgary president and vice-chancellor Ed McCauley says the money will do more than just upgrade the facility. “It supports athletic excellence, scientific innovation and community connection,” he said. The $33.6 million in federal funding will also support upgrades to the halfpipe at WinSport, another venue utilized in the 1988 Olympics, as well as increasing the snowmaking capacity and updating security measures at the Nakiska National Ski Cross Training Centre in Kananaskis. “These legendary facilities – the Olympic Oval, the WinSport halfpipe in Calgary and the Nakiska National Ski Cross Training Centre – are places where we can create more opportunities for Canadians to play, train and proudly wear the maple leaf on the world stage,” van Koeverden said Monday. “By investing in these projects, the Government of Canada is strengthening our ability to host major sporting events, from the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games to the FIFA Men’s World Cup. “We’re continuing to prove that Canada is the best sport-hosting nation in the world, while helping more athletes focus on their performance and pursuit of excellence.” The federal funding comes from the Build Communities Strong Fund, a $51-billion initiative supporting infrastructure projects across the country that advance economic prosperity, housing, sport and recreation, education, health, transit and climate adaptation.
