Ontario Investing More Than $250,000 to Renovate Community Hall in Devlin

LA VALLEE — The Ontario government is investing $251,784 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to assist the Township of La Vallee in upgrading its community hall in Devlin. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario, the province is making strategic investments to help northern communities build and renovate important community infrastructure to build a stronger, more resilient Northern Ontario.

“A strong sense of community is essential to people’s well-being, which is why our government continues to support projects like this across Northern Ontario,” said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “By helping La Vallee revamp its community hall, our government is ensuring residents of all ages have a space to host events and programming close to home.”

La Vallee’s community hall hosts many events, such as weddings and birthday parties, and is a polling station during elections. With the NOHFC’s support, the hall will undergo important renovations to lower maintenance costs, resulting in a more modern and versatile event space. New flooring, windows and air conditioning units will be installed and its kitchen and bar will be refurbished, among other enhancements.

“The NOHFC is strengthening the quality of life in La Vallee through upgrades to the Devlin Community Hall,” said Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora – Rainy River. “These enhancements are improving accessibility, reducing maintenance costs, supporting increased use of the facility and ensuring we continue to have a place to gather, celebrate, exercise, learn and more.”

“For 113 years, the Devlin Hall has provided a venue for residents to meet, celebrate special occasions, socialize, learn and exercise. It also serves as our Emergency Evacuation Centre,” said Reeve Lucille MacDonald, Township of La Vallee. “Upgrades to improve safety, accessibility, energy and efficiency were a top priority for residents that attended our community strategic planning session in 2023. Council and staff have worked diligently on this plan. Funding from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation is making this plan a reality! We greatly appreciate the assistance from MPP Greg Rickford, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and their staff for their assistance in this project. The much-needed funding will make our hall viable for many years to come.”

The Ontario government is prioritizing investments through the NOHFC that protect northern industries and jobs, mitigate the impacts of U.S. tariffs and trade disruptions and secure new opportunities for the long-term prosperity of Northern Ontario. The renewed focus is boosting competitiveness and ensuring the North remains a leader in Ontario’s economy. This new direction is in addition to the province’s investment of an additional $30 million over three years, bringing the NOHFC’s annual budget to a total of $110 million. Together, these initiatives will benefit communities of all sizes, both rural and urban, including Indigenous communities.

Quick Facts

• Through its funding programs, the NOHFC offers support to public and private sector economic development projects across Northern Ontario.
• Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $1 billion in nearly 8,100 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $3 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 12,500 jobs.

Additional Resources

• The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices and Small Business Enterprise Centres support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and government funding programs.