Built in 1903 as a school, the Murray Harbour Community Centre is now used extensively year round by area residents. The original windows in the structure were a single-pane type and did not conserve heat. This resulted in the building being costly to heat and uncomfortable for the residents to use. The windows have been replaced with double-pane, low-E argon windows which will help to keep it cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Through Municipal Rural Infrastructure Funding (MRIF), the Government of Canada, Government of Prince Edward Island and the Community of Murray Harbour cost-shared the $11,000 window retrofit project.

“Canada’s New Government is getting things done for the people of Murray Harbour,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. “Investing in community infrastructure results in increased community creativity and economic development activity.

“The Murray Harbour Community Centre is one of the largest structures in Southern Kings County; therefore, it is used to host many of the community events,” says Premier Binns. “The Government of PEI is pleased to contribute to this much-needed retrofit, to increase the sustainability of this historical building and minimize energy costs to the community.”

“This modernization will reduce greenhouse gases generated by the heating system and contribute to a healthier environment,” says Minister MacFadyen. “The residents of this community will also benefit from savings generated by the more energy efficient building.”

“This Municipality has taken the initiative to invest in major capital assets, such as our community centre,” says Faye Fraser, Chair of the Municipality of Murray Harbour. “A special thank you to Federal and Provincial Governments who helped make this project possible. Many people know the quote ‘If you build it, they will come’; Murray Harbour would like to extend that phase to ‘If we maintain it, (Community Centre) it will stay,’ and so will all those who appreciate this facility.”

The Murray Harbour Community Centre is used at least five days a week for community events, banquets, workshops, theatre, and children’s programs and houses a library and Community Access Program (CAP) sites.

For more information about federal and provincial infrastructure initiatives that benefit the communities of Prince Edward Island, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca or www.gov.pe.ca/go/infrastructure.