QUISPAMSIS (CNB) – Canada Day celebrations in Quispamsis included the official opening of “qplex,” a new multi-purpose wellness, community and meeting facility.

The opening was attended by Finance Minister Blain Higgs, Fundy Royal MP Rob Moore and Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll.

"The qplex is a fine example of what can happen when all levels of government work together with the community to help improve the lives of all residents in Quispamsis and the Kennebecasis Valley," said Higgs. "The provincial government is proud to have played a major role in investing in this recreational infrastructure facility."

Higgs was speaking on behalf of Economic Development Minister Paul Robichaud.

"The economy is our government's top priority, and investments in community recreational infrastructure such as the qplex, which includes an ice rink, soccer pitch, a pool and state-of-the-art business and meeting facilities, are investments in the dynamism and vitality of the communities in which we live," said Moore.

Moore was representing Bernard Valcourt, minister of state for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and la Francophonie.

Designed and constructed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold standard, the qplex features: a National Hockey League size ice surface; a wheelchair accessible seating area; a wave pool, leisure pool and junior Olympic swimming pool; a three-lane indoor walking track; a YMCA-YWCA community centre; and a rubber-surfaced accessible playground.

The building's business and meeting facility provides venues in which to host a variety of community and regionally based activities that will contribute to the local economy.

The qplex includes a 360-square-metre (4,000-square-foot) multi-purpose room suitable for hosting a range of business and tourism events and about 1,530 square metres (17,000 square feet) of exhibit space in the main floor of the arena.

"The qplex is the culmination of years of hard work by many people in our community," said Driscoll. "We did it by working together as a team: our town council; our staff; our MPs and MLAs; and the people of Quispamsis. All of us shared a common dream: to provide our residents with a beautiful recreation and wellness centre. I believe that dream has been realized."

The federal government, through ACOA's Innovative Communities Fund, and the provincial government each invested $3 million in the $24.5-million project.

01-07-11