Ontario Revitalizing Community Infrastructure in Oliver Paipoonge

NEWS		August 4, 2023

OLIVER PAIPOONGE – The Ontario government is providing more than $842,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) for two community infrastructure projects in the Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge. This investment will improve municipal and recreational infrastructure, promote tourism and enhance quality of life for northerners.

“Investing in our halls, arenas and recreation centres demonstrates the government’s commitment to maintaining healthy communities in Ontario,” said Kevin Holland, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Northern Development. “These enhancements and upgrades will ensure the facilities remain a safe and welcoming environment for the residents of Oliver Paipoonge and will extend the life of these facilities for future generations.”

The Municipality of Oliver Paipooge is receiving $486,132 from the NOHFC to renovate and extend the life of six separate municipal assets:

The Murillo Community Centre will have electrical upgrades, foundation waterproofing, roof and door replacement and an overhaul of its HVAC system
The Rosslyn Community Centre will have electrical upgrades, parking lot repairs and new windows and doors installed
The Intola Outdoor Skating Rink will have electrical and lighting upgrades and a new indoor shelter
The Kakabeka Outdoor Skating Rink and Recreation Complex will have upgrades to the rink boards, chain-link fencing, lighting and baseball facility
The Rosslyn Outdoor Rink will have rink boards and chain-link fencing replaced and improved lighting
The Murillo Outdoor Rink and Recreation Area will have rink boards and chain-link fencing replaced and improved lighting

NOHFC is also providing $355,991 in funding for Oliver Paipoonge to modernize the Norwest Arena by replacing the propane-fueled ice re-surfacer with a battery-powered machine, repairing the refrigeration equipment, installing a new railing, purchasing kitchen equipment and making electrical upgrades for automating the ice plant to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.

“We are very grateful for the generous funding awarded by the NOHFC to improve sports and recreation facilities in the Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge,” said Lucy Kloosterhuis, Mayor of Oliver Paipoonge. “We thank the NOHFC for ensuring that the many users of these community facilities will be able to continue to enjoy their sports and recreational activities, and we thank the Government of Ontario for recognizing how important their financial support has been for our community.”

“Our government is ensuring Northwestern communities have the resources they need to build strong, healthy and vibrant communities,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development. “Through targeted investments, we are helping communities like Oliver Paipoonge improve the quality of their facilities for the collective benefit of community members and visitors of all ages.”

The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects—big and small, rural and urban—that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $685 million in 5,656 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $2.3 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 9,000 jobs.

Quick Fact

The Ontario government launched new and improved NOHFC programs that support more projects in rural northern communities and make it easier for more people and businesses to apply. The programs target existing and emerging markets, provide more work opportunities for Indigenous people and address the skilled labour shortage in the North.

Additional Resources

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