News Release

For Immediate Release
May 2, 2005

Play Ball!

Glace Bay, N.S. – Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton-Canso, today announced Government of Canada support for enhancements to the Table Head Complex in Glace Bay, the site of the 2005 Canadian Junior Little League Championship. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister for Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

“The chance to host the Canadian Junior Little League Championship in Glace Bay opens up great opportunities for the community,” says MP Cuzner. “The influx of visitors to the area is good for business all across Cape Breton and it provides an opportunity to profile community’s many attributes.”

“It is vital to Canada’s youth that we maintain sports programs in Canada,” says John Maxner, Chair of the Host Committee. “The enhancements to the facility will not only prepare us for the 2005 Championship, it will also ensure that the youth in Glace Bay will have the necessary infrastructure for future sports events.”

The Glace Bay Little League Association has hosted the National Championship on two occasions in the past, in 1988 and 1998. If previous experience is any indication, large crowds can be expected for the 2005 Canadian Junior Little League Championship in August.

The total cost of the project is $115,000. ECBC will provide a non-repayable contribution of $57,500 on behalf of ACOA’s Strategic Community Investment Fund.

The Strategic Community Investment Fund provides $135 million over five years to help communities in Atlantic Canada to create an environment that encourages and enhances, among other activities, the development of strategic sectors such as tourism.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA’s programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.

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For Broadcast Use Only:

CAPE BRETON - CANSO MP RODGER CUZNER TODAY ANNOUNCED GOVERNMENT OF CANADA SUPPORT FOR ENHANCEMENTS TO THE TABLE HEAD COMPLEX IN GLACE BAY, THE SITE OF THE 2005 CANADIAN JUNIOR LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.

THE CHANCE TO HOST THE CANADIAN JUNIOR LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP IN OUR HOMETOWN OF GLACE BAY OPENS UP GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY, SAYS MP CUZNER.

THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS $115,000. ECBC WILL PROVIDE A NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $57,500 ON BEHALF OF ACOA’S STRATEGIC COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND.

THE 2005 CANADIAN JUNIOR LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP WILL BE HELD IN AUGUST, ATTRACTING PLAYERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM ACROSS CANADA.


For More Information Contact:

Valérie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Tel: (613) 941-7241

Office of Rodger Cuzner, MP
Cape Breton-Canso
Tel: (902) 842-9763

John Maxner
Chair of the Host Committee
Tel: (902) 849-5160

D.A. Landry
ECBC, Communications
Tel: (902) 564-3617