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By Angela Brown

RM of Loon Lake, RM of Biggar also see support

Wilkie receives federal-provincial funds for new pool

Feb 2, 2023 | 4:00 PM

The Town of Wilkie has been approved for funding for a new pool.

The joint federal-provincial release said the main objective of the cost-share project is to build a new outdoor swimming pool, with a water slide and a diving board. The pool will also be accessible, with a sloped ramp instead of stairs to enter the pool.

The funding is provided through the Canada-Saskatchewan investment in infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening communities.

Wilkie will receive $1,070,460 in federal funding; $891,961 in provincial funding, and the town will cover the remaining $713,729, according to the release.

Town of Wilkie recreation director Lori Fenrich said the funding announcement is good news.

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“We were very excited to be awarded it,” she told battlefordsNOW.

A replacement pool was needed since the existing one, built in the late 1970s, is aged and requires a lot of ongoing maintenance work.

“Every year it’s: What else are we going to have to fix?” Fenrich said.

The new pool will be built on Seventh Avenue, close to the schools with work expected to start later this year. The existing pool will remain open until the new pool is ready for use.

Fenrich said the town has been fundraising for the new pool for a couple of years now and so far raised about $150,000.

“There will be more fundraisers coming up,” she said.

The Rural Municipality of Biggar is also being supported through the government’s program.

Their funds will be used for the Palo Bridge work. The project will involve replacing the existing 24.4 metre treated timber bridge with new culverts.

The project will receive $85,442 in federal funding; $170,833 in provincial funding and $256,275 will be provided by the recipient.

As well, the RM of Loon Lake will receive support for the Dopko Bridge work. This project will replace the existing 12.2 metre treated timber bridge with a new structure.

The RM will receive $166,700 in federal funding; $333,300 in provincial funding; and the remaining $500,000 will be provided by the municipality.

In total, 25 projects across Saskatchewan will receive funding through the Green Infrastructure, Community, Culture and Recreation, and the Rural and Northern Communities streams of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

The federal government is putting in more than $10.8 million towards these projects, the province is contributing more than $8.9 million. The recipients will contribute more than $7.6 million remaining for the projects and will be responsible for any additional costs.

“The investments announced today will create opportunities for Saskatchewanians to build a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities,” Dominic LeBlanc, federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, said in a statement. “We will continue working with our partners to support rural and Indigenous communities across Saskatchewan.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow