“The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is pleased to invest in the long-term economic growth of the Palmer Road area through this initiative,” said Mr. McGuire, on behalf of the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for ACOA. “I would like to congratulate the Palmer Road Columbus Club for its dedication to strengthening the economic base of its community in an effort to benefit the people who live and work here.”

“The community has done an excellent job of developing this project which will help enhance the life of the people of this area,” said Minister Shea. “By partnering with the community through the Community Development Program, the Province is helping citizens identify projects that will help to sustain and encourage growth locally. This project is a fine example of how well that partnership can work.”

The construction of the new community centre provides improved accessibility, better allocation of space, a stage area and dressing room, and improved acoustics. In addition to cultural events and a series of popular dinner theatres, the new centre will house a CAP site, annual festivals, fundraising events and a number of community-based programs such as Adult Basic Education and Kids West. The Palmer Road Columbus Club serves the communities of St. Louis, St. Edwards, Miminegash, St. Lawrence, Pleasant View, Palmer Road, Waterford, Skinners Pond, Leoville, Peterville, Harper Road and DeBlois.

“The Palmer Road area will be greatly served by our new community centre in both an economic and social sense,” said Willard Mokler, Chair of the Palmer Road Columbus Club. “We are grateful to ACOA and the province for their support and funding toward this development. We are also pleased to be able to dedicate the new centre in memory of Clovis Doucette who was a great leader and friend within our community.”

ACOA provided $350,000 in funding for the construction of the new community centre through the Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF) which is designed to work with not-for-profit organizations to create opportunities for economic development. The Palmer Road Columbus Club invested $100,000 in the development. An additional $90,000 was provided by the Province of Prince Edward Island including funding through the Department of Development and Technology’s Community Development Fund, an assistance program that provides support to a variety of community sponsored projects throughout the province.