Central Nova MP Peter MacKay chats with student-athletes Jeremy Hudson and Emilie Boucher Monday morning after making a $500,000 federal government funding announcement for the Antigonish Town and County Recreation Association field project. (Corey LeBlanc photo)

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When Emilie Boucher takes the field for the first home game of her next school soccer season, she will not have to worry about getting grass stains on her uniform.
The 16-year-old will be one of hundreds of student-athletes, along with members of the broader community, who will be using a new all-weather artificial turf field in Antigonish.
“It will be awesome. It will provide people with more opportunities in our community to get involved,” the Grade 11 student said.
The track and field, cross country and soccer player said the new facilities will provide her and other athletes with more chances to train and to compete.
“Everyone I have talked to about it is so excited,” Emilie said.
That sense of excitement filled Town Hall chambers Monday morning as Central Nova MP and national defence minister Peter MacKay announced a $500,000 federal government contribution to the Antigonish Town and County Recreation Association field project.
“It’s a great day for sports and recreation in Antigonish,” MacKay said in making the announcement on behalf of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) minister Keith Ashfield.
“The economy is our government’s top priority and we recognize that investments in local infrastructure help to build strong, vibrant communities and contribute to tourism and economic growth. Our investment ensures that people of all ages have access to safe, modern sporting facilities for the foreseeable future,” MacKay added.
MacKay said the effort of the recreation association, along with the support of the municipalities and school board, have been a key to its success.
“And, of course, the community has really gotten behind this project and saw its importance,” he told reporters.
“It will provide a lot of joy and a lot of athletic endeavours and a lot of people with opportunities. Its location close to the schools and its connection to minor sports in the area – this project is something people truly believed in.
“So, with all of the other funding partners, it made perfect sense [to contribute],” MacKay said.
As recreation association chair Danny Berry has dubbed it, the federal contribution is the final piece of the financial puzzle for the more than $2.8 million initiative. Other monies are coming from the town, county and Strait Regional School Board – each chipping in $250,000, while the provincial government has committed $500,000. The broader Antigonish and business communities have combined to pitch in more than $1 million, including contributions from local schools ($30,000) and minor sports’ associations ($100,000).
“There are many heroes along the way in this journey,” Berry said, noting the efforts of many to make this dream a reality over the last four-and-a-half years.
The two-phase recreation initiative includes an artificial turf soccer field, soccer/football field and baseball diamond at Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School, and a soccer field and 400-metre eight-lane track at St. Andrew Junior School.
Berry said the turf field portion of the project is “blueprint ready.” He expects the call for tenders for that portion of the initiative will come in the “very near future.”
Berry said the steering committee will meet this week to discuss the next steps in the process. He added the artificial turf purchase price tag is about $1 million.
“It is a good time to buy a turf field as well,” he noted, considering the Canadian dollar is at par with its American counterpart.
Although the association had a deadline at the beginning of February to receive federal funding to go forward with the initiative, Berry said everything remains on schedule. He added the key is to “get things moving” before the March budget deadlines of the municipalities and the school board. Those contributors had told the association it had to start spending its portions of the funding before the end of the current fiscal year or it would be revoked.
“Now, with a month to go, we can get tenders out and secure that funding and allow it to continue from those three levels,” Berry said.
At this point, Berry said the first phase of the project, which will be completed this year, will more than likely include construction of the artificial turf soccer field, soccer/football field and baseball diamond at Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School.
With work underway, Berry agreed there will be disruptions for those who use the current facilities.
“I have been in contact with the minor associations as late as yesterday and we will be meeting with them,” he said.
Berry said the baseball fields will be affected this season.
“They may have to be a little innovative and sacrifice [for] a year in order for construction to take place, but I think they will be more than willing to do that,” he noted.
Berry is one of many who applauded the championship effort of the entire community in making this dream a reality.
“I think within the timeframe of one year we raised just shy of $1 million dollars,” he said, commending both the corporate and community efforts. He added, of course, none of this would have happened without the efforts of those involved with the recreation association.
“The community at large has done a tremendous job in making this happen,” Mayor Carl Chisholm said during the press conference.
“This is good for you, but someday you’ll grow up to have kids of your own who will enjoy these fields,” he noted, gesturing to the student-athletes attending the announcement.
Fittingly using a sports’ analogy, Warden Herb Delorey said the Antigonish community, including the association, “stood up to the plate.”
“You have all worked relentlessly,” he said.
Strait Regional School Board chair Mary Jess MacDonald said the project will not only benefit students, but also the broader community.
“It is an excellent example of partners working together to support students – our greatest resource,” she said.
Antigonish Celtics Soccer Club president Darren Thompson said the funding announcement is “great news” for the entire community.
“Everyone got behind it and it started to build momentum, which helped make it so successful,” he said.
Thompson commended the recreation association committee for its effort.
“I don’t think people really realize how much work has been done. It has been a phenomenal commitment,” Thompson said.
That effort will not only pay dividends on the field, but also off the field, considering the projected economic benefits such an initiative can bring.
The Antigonish Chamber of Commerce welcomed the opportunities new infrastructure will bring.
“The new facilities will allow Antigonish to host more athletic events which will have positive impact on the business community. It will bring more people to our community and new dollars to our businesses,” Chamber president Carolyn Grant said.
“In addition, it will increase the profile of Antigonish throughout the Atlantic Provinces, which could stimulate residential and business development.”
When asked when action will begin on the field, Berry – the former hard-nosed head coach and general manager of the Antigonish Bulldogs who said he had “goose bumps” when MacKay made his announcement – did not hesitate.
“They will be playing soccer and football Sept. 1.”