The Province of Manitoba is contributing $6 million to support plans to construct the second phase of Sport Manitoba’s Sport for Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg, Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson, minister responsible for sport, announced today. It is estimated the new phase will cost $18 million. It will consist of a 50,000-square-foot field house that will include a multi-purpose gym, running track, strength and conditioning facilities, and an aerobic training centre. Once completed, the Sport for Life Centre will act as the central hub for Manitoba’s amateur sports community and its 350,000 sport participants, coaches, officials, administrators, sport professionals and volunteers. Teams of all levels from around the province will be able to access coaching and training resources. WATCH PROMOTIONAL VIDEO >>>
“This announcement demonstrates our support for this important facility and for the development of
Manitoba’s athletes, from recreational teams all the way to the Olympic podium. As we have all seen
with the return of the NHL to Winnipeg, there’s a great passion for sport in Manitoba,” said Robinson.
“We know that sports are important to Manitoba families and that’s why we have committed to match
the contributions that other funding partners are being asked to bring to this project.”
Residents of the city’s core area will have access to programming at the centre and the field house
will be made available to area schools in need of athletic facilities. Students from across the province
will also have the opportunity to take part in sport education programming at the centre. A total of
about 400,000 people will visit the centre annually, when both phases are completed.
“The contribution from the Province of Manitoba is significant in developing and completing the Sport
for Life Centre,” said Jeff Hnatiuk president and CEO, Sport Manitoba. “This support brings us one
step closer to finishing Phase Two. When complete, the Sport for Life Centre will have a profound
impact in our province and will be a resource for amateur sport throughout Manitoba.”
The new Sport for Life Centre will be the first facility in Canada to combine sport governance with a
multi-purpose athletic and exercise centre, sport and training expertise, training tools, therapeuticspace, and research and testing capabilities, all in one location.
“We know the support announced today by the province will accelerate our private-sector campaign
in our goal to reach $6 million,” said Paul Robson, co-chair, Sport for Life Centre Capital Campaign.
Sport Manitoba is developing its new headquarters in a heritage building at 145 Pacific Ave. in
Winnipeg. The agency’s 50 employees and 75 provincial sport organizations moved into the Sport for
Life Centre in February 2010. In addition to administrative offices, the existing headquarters houses
the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, an athlete testing and therapy area, meeting rooms and a
multi-purpose theatre.
More information on Sport Manitoba and its fundraising campaign is available at www.sportmanitoba.ca
Source: http://www.sportmanitoba.ca/uploads/Province%20Announcement%20June%2030_doc.pdf