February 23, 2011

Pictured above from left to right: Eryn Bulmer Barett, Olympian, Diving; Brooke Zimmerman, World Champion, Water Polo; Kendra Ohama, Paralympian, Basketball; Lee Richardson, M.P. for Calgary Centre, Jeff Brooke, COO, Talisman Centre; Mayor Naheed Nenshi; Alec Mine, Chair Lindsay Park Sports Society; Nick Walker, Executive VP, Talisman Energy; Tom Ponting, Olympian, Swimming.


Talisman Centre and funding partners celebrate completion of $44.5 million Roof Replacement and Facility Enhancement Project.

Calgary– Renewal of a distinctive part of the Calgary skyline was celebrated today as Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Lee Richardson; MP for Calgary Centre cut a ceremonial ribbon made from the Talisman Centre’s new roof to commemorate the completion of the $44.5 million Roof Replacement and Facility Enhancement Project. 

The joint project, funded by The City, Talisman Energy and Western Economic Diversification Canada, replaced the Centre’s iconic sloped roof as well as allowing for multiple facility upgrades.

The Roof Replacement and Facility Enhancement Project began in January, 2010 and saw portions of the facility partially closed over the course of the improvements.  While full availability to the Centre was returned in January, completion of the new roof marks an end to the facility’s period of renovations. 

“I had the pleasure of announcing a federal government investment of $1 million to renovate and improve the infrastructure of the Talisman Sports and Wellness Centre in 2009, an investment that created jobs for Calgarians,” said Lee Richardson, MP for Calgary Centre. “Recreational facilities – such as local hockey rinks, swimming pools, and sports fields – are the heart of Canadian communities, providing places where families, friends and neighbors can gather together to get fit and have fun,” he added.
The new fabric roof, one of only two in the world, includes layers of state of the art insulation called Nanogel, inside two layers of an extremely durable translucent fabric.  Working together, the insulation and the fabric will improve energy efficiency and provide significant cost savings over the next 30-plus years.
In keeping with the environmentally friendly theme of the improvement project, the old roof will live on at The City of Calgary Parks & Recreation department as parking shelters for equipment.

Over the course of its 28 year history, Talisman Centre has provided athletes who are serious about fitness with an inclusive atmosphere and wide spectrum of world class training services.  It also has served as the training facility for many of Canada’s Olympic, Paralympic and World Champion athletes including Mark Tewksbury, Duff Gibson, Blythe Hartley, Carol Huynh, Curtis Myden, Tom Ponting, Brooke Zimmerman, Eryn Bulmer Barrett, Kendra Ohama, Michelle Cameron Coulter and Cora Campbell.

Below is a copy of the remarks given by Lee Richardson, MP at the grand re-opening of the Talisman Centre.

Thank you. Good morning everyone. It is a great pleasure to be here today on behalf of the Government of Canada and my colleague, the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification. 

In December of 2009 I had the pleasure of participating in the initial funding announcement for this exciting project and I’m delighted to return for today’s grand reopening of the Talisman Centre for Sports and Wellness.

Recreational facilities – such as local hockey rinks, swimming pools, and sports fields – are the heart of Canadian communities … providing places where families, friends and neighbors can gather together to get fit and have fun. They are important to Calgarians
Our Government is proud to have supported this initiative with an investment of $1 million through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program.
Over a two-year period, we are investing $500 million to improve recreational infrastructure in communities across the country. 
This includes 718 projects right here in Western Canada.
And while Canada is already showing signs of economic recovery, the recovery is fragile.
Just as the Government of Canada is committed to completing its Economic Action Plan spending, we are equally committed to addressing significant fiscal pressures with the deficit.
This is why our recent Jobs and Growth budget includes a three point plan to bring the budget back to balance.
The success of our Economic Action Plan is a tribute to the partnerships between local, provincial and federal governments.
Rising to the challenge of the worst economic downturn in half a century, everyone has worked together to keep people working, and to ensure a speedy, robust, and durable recovery.
Our Jobs and Growth budget aims to contribute to this recovery and sustain Canada’s economic advantage now and for the future.
Together we are all working to build a stronger West for a stronger Canada.
Thank you and congratulations!