Province Commits $3 million to Hartland Project

Federal funding is remaining piece needed to build Central Carleton Community Complex

Photo caption:
Those on hand for a visit from provincial officials to Harland include, from left, Coin. Wayne Britton, Mayor Darrin Foster, Day & Ross Chief Financial Officer Kevin Chase, Central Carleton Community Complex Committee representative Murray Dickinson, Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation Andrea Anderson-Mason and Carleton MLA Stewart Fairgrieve. (Submitted photo)

River Valley Sun

Plans to build the long-awaited Central Carleton Community Complex took a giant step forward on Thursday, July 30, when the New Brunswick government announced its plans to provide $3 million in funding towards the construction of the multi-use facility.

Andrea Anderson-Mason, the minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation, visited Hartland Thursday to meet with committee members and town representatives.

“We as a committee have been working hard to secure a multi-use facility for the Central Carleton Region for many years,” said Travis Dickinson, chair of the fundraising committee. “We are excited to have taken another step forward in this project.”

In a press release, the committee said Dickinson thanked the Regional Development Corporation and the New Brunswick government for their significant financial commitment.

“We are excited to move forward with our application and work with Infrastructure Canada and the federal government to secure the final funding piece required to make this project a reality,” he said.

Dickinson credited the many volunteers for the progress the committee and town have made to date.

“We would also like to thank the Town of Hartland, our neighbouring Local Service Districts, and the many donors who have come forward thus far,” he said. “We look forward to continued collaboration with these groups as we work towards completion of our fundraising goal.”

The committee release said the minister, in her return to the community, provided assurances the province is fully behind the replacement of the 53-year-old Hartland Arena. The committee said Andeson-Mason demonstrated her interest in seeing the project completed after her first meeting with stakeholders in February.

“This is another step in a journey that has taken years,” said Carleton MLA Stewart Fairgrieve, who was also in attendance during Thursday’s visit. “We’re very fortunate that the commitment from the committee, the town of Hartland and the Local Service Districts has been so strongly persistent, and I look forward to the day when the federal government provides final approval.”

Fairgrieve explained the provincial commitment is another vital piece of the puzzle, with Infrastructure Canada’s approval being the final step.

The press release noted the volunteer committee, working in partnership with the town of Hartland, to date, raised $1.3 million in financial commitments from local businesses and corporations.

The release also noted Friends of Hartland continues to accept individual and community donations. The Central Carleton Community Complex Committee encourages everyone to participate in the weekly Friends of Hartland 50/50 draw, which assists several capital projects in the local area, as well as the Hartland Legion’s Chase The Ace fundraiser which supports the complex.

The committee set a fundraising target of $2 million towards the estimated $9-million project.

“This is a proud day for the citizens of Hartland and all of our surrounding communities,” said Mayor Darrin Foster. “We are very thankful for this funding commitment from the Higgs government. In fact, it would not have been possible without the tireless work done by Minister Anderson-Mason and our very own Stewart Fairgrieve.”

Foster said the committee should be tremendously happy and proud to see their work nearing fruition.

“After the last few months, this news could not have come at a better time,” he said. “Not only does it raise our collective spirits, but it also promises to spur new development and ideas for our area. With this community complex in place, it solidifies the fact that the Town of Hartland and all the service districts are on the grow.”
Foster acknowledged this is the closest the community and committee have been to making this dream a reality, but added the commitment from the federal government is still needed.

“We are very hopeful on that front,” he said. “Our new MP, Richard Bragdon, has voiced his support of this project from the beginning and continues to work on behalf of Carleton County.

“We’re not lacing up our collective skates yet, but we’re loading the car.”