D1

By Jacques-François Levesque

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

Despite the dark clouds overhead, threatening yet more rain in the area on Aug. 19, members of the E. & P. Sénéchal Civic Centre committee, as well as town officials, were beaming as Allison McCain, chairman of McCain Foods Limited, presented a giant cheque symbolizing his company's $250,000 donation towards the new sports and convention facility currently under construction on Ouellette Street.

This most recent contribution follows in the wake of additional funding of $1.5 million and $900,000 provided respectively by the federal and provincial governments towards the project.

In making his presentation last week, McCain stated he was responding to the commitment made by his company towards the major financial campaign launched during Mayor Gerald Carroll's term in office and with Réjean Landry as president of the fundraising initiative and its many volunteer committee members.

At that time, the late Harrison McCain, chairman of McCain Foods, had pledged an amount of $200,000. Allison McCain added $50,000 more to the contribution made last week.

A major industry in the Grand Falls region, McCain Foods' logo will be at the centre of the future ice rink in the E. & P. Sénéchal Civic Centre.

"So far into the campaign, approximately 90 per cent of the companies and individuals contacted for donations have already contributed their respective amounts," stated Réjean Landry, president of the major financial campaign committee. "The remaining 10 per cent, estimated at approximately $400,000, are still under recruitment but I feel positive these will be forthcoming," Landry said, adding that the region is well known for its generosity and that the fundraising campaign is still ongoing.

Work is proceeding according to the schedule on the site of the future $15-million civic centre. Crews with the Town of Grand Falls have been kept busy in the last few weeks installing water and sewer pipes on the property and linking them to the municipality's system.

Once completed, the centre will feature seating for up to 1,200 spectators, a rink surface, a walking trail, physical fitness facilities and rooms equipped with the required technology for business meetings and conferences.