The Sault Ste. Marie Armoury will benefit from $6 million in renovation funding from the Department of National Defence, it was announced today by Sault MP Bryan Hayes.
Hayes made the announcement at the Armoury, located at 375 Pine Street, accompanied by Major Lance Knox, battery commander with the 49th Field Artillery Regiment.
Renovations to the Armoury will include a new ventilation system, repairs to the roof and lighting equipment, painting and pavement work, to be done over the next two years.
The Armoury, which opened in 1952, is the home of the 49th Field Artillery Regiment.
"This Armoury in Sault Ste. Marie is among the largest in Canada…with its drill hall, lecture hall, theatre, indoor shooting range, museum, field gun storage shed, garage and numerous rooms, it truly is the envy in the field of artillery because of its size and technological assets," Hayes told a group of 49th Field Regiment members assembled for Tuesday's funding announcement.
"My father served in the Royal Canadian AIr Force for 37 years so I've always had a strong personal connection with our military," Hayes said.
"My immediate family has served for a combined 100 years, and I'm honoured to represent all of our serving members and veterans as a member of the federal government's standing committee on veterans affairs."
"This is important for the infrastructure of our military and I'm glad the government recognized the need to do this, our armed forces are so incredibly valuable to Canada and they need to have the proper facilities to operate in," Hayes told SooToday.
The $6 million announced by Hayes is part of a $135 million renovation package for armouries across Canada, announced by the federal government last fall.
"Infrastructure needs are ongoing, so down the road there will need to be further upgrades but this tackles the most immediate needs," Hayes said.
"This will extend the life of the facility, it's an excellent training facility for us, and any work that improves the quality of life for the soldiers inside it is a good thing," Knox told SooToday.
Knox, a Sault native, started out as a navy cadet at the Armoury.
"This has been my home."
"I've had the opportunity in my career to visit a lot of armouries, and we're extremely fortunate to have the one we have in Sault Ste. Marie."
"It's an awesome facility with lots of classrooms and space for the (field) guns, it's well recognized in the community as a key piece of infrastructure," Knox said.
A news release from the office of Sault MP Bryan Hayes follows.
SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO – Bryan Hayes, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, on behalf of the Honourable Julian Fantino, Assistant Minister of National Defence, today announced an investment of $6 million for renovations at the Sault Ste. Marie Armoury.
The project includes the installation of a new ventilation system, repairs to the roof and lighting equipment, painting throughout the facility, and pavement work at the armoury.
The work will be completed over the next two years and will help boost job creation in the Sault Ste. Marie area.
Locally known as the ‘Pine Street Armoury’, the facility is home to the 49th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, a reserve force unit of the Canadian Army’s 33 Canadian Brigade Group.
The project announced today will ensure that the men and women of this regiment can continue to train, learn, and support their community in infrastructure that fully supports their needs.
Quick Facts
- The federal infrastructure investments, announced by Prime Minister Harper in November 2014, will build and renew infrastructure across the country, creating jobs and economic prosperity for local communities.
- The Department of National Defence has received $452 million for the repair and upgrade of Canadian Armed Forces facilities.
- Over the next two years, $135 million will be invested in projects involving repairs to roofs, siding, plumbing, and heating and ventilation system at Armouries across Canada. By completing this work, DND will ultimately improve the efficiency and reduce maintenance costs at these facilities.
- The Government estimates that accelerated investments will also support the creation of over 10,000 jobs in communities across Canada, like Sault Ste. Marie, by the end of 2016.