PARRY SOUND—Several municipalities on Manitoulin Island and Cockburn Island, were among those announced as being part of a Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) funding initiative at the recent Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) annual conference in Parry Sound.
The Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands (NEMI) received $275,420 for the purchase, delivery and installation of a new 306-foot floating dock system to upgrade Spider Bay Marina, and $246,694 to revitalize the Manitoulin East Municipal Airport with upgrades to the fuel systems.
“The funding news came to the municipalities a couple of months ago,” said NEMI Mayor Al MacNevin. “For the docks this is part of the ongoing replacement of the docks at Spider Bay Marina, some of which are beyond their lifespan. This funding provided for the new floating docking system as part of our refurbishment project.”
“And the funding for the airport is for automated fuel systems,” said Mayor MacNevin. “Currently there needs to be someone at the airport to provide fuel to planes that land at the airport, but with this new system it means basically pilots will be able to serve themselves. We have the odd case of a commercial or private airplane from southern Ontario flying into the airport, and the airport is only open certain hours of the day. Tenders have been awarded on this new system, but the work hasn’t started as of yet.”
The Town of Gore Bay received $199,200 in NOHFC funding. The funds provided are to improve the overall condition, safety and accessibility of the Harbour Centre and waterfront boardwalk. Gore Bay Mayor Ron Lane explained, “the boardwalk and bridge repair work is done or almost done. And for the Harbour Centre there were a number of things this funding was to go toward, including a chairlift being installed in the Harbour Centre, new flooring, repairs to shoreline erosion in front of the harbour centre and paving being put down.”
The Township of Tehkummah received $167,500 in funding for upgrades to four kilometres of the Bowerman Nature Trail and John Budd Park outdoor pavilion area that will allow both the trail and pavilion to better serve residents and tourists.
The Township of Cockburn Island received $66,870 in NOHFC funding to make structural improvements and interior upgrades to its community hall, and a heritage building that hosts community and special events for local residents and tourists.
The Ontario government provided more than $5 million through the NOHFC to 27 community infrastructure projects in Northeastern Ontario. This investment will help municipalities improve quality of life for Northerners and create more social, economic and tourism opportunities in the North.
“Our government is proud to support our municipal partners with investments that make a real difference to Northeastern communities and improve the safety and well-being of residents,” said Greg Rickford, minister of northern development. “Through the NOHFC, our government is providing the certainty that municipalities need to expand operations and diversity the local economy, making the North an excellent place to live, work, and play.”
