Ontario Construction News staff writer
BGC Ottawa held a ground-breaking for a new clubhouse this week, after receiving $5 million from the provincial and federal governments.
“Safe community spaces are key in ensuring that our communities are inclusive and caring places to live, raise families, and work. Today’s announcement ensures that youth in Ottawa South have improved access to vital programs and services in a modern and safe facility they can enjoy for years to come,” said Ottawa South MP David McGuinty.
The project includes construction of a new clubhouse that will serve as a youth services and community interest facility. The new facility will offer better protection against COVID-19 and other viruses with isolation rooms that have direct access to outdoor space to avoid exposure.
Also, there will be eight single stall gender inclusive bathrooms, additional hand washing stations, built-in separation for large spaces like the gym, multiple entrance and exit points, and two separate kitchens for cohort and community use.
The new construction will result in energy efficiencies and cost savings as well as better, high-quality air exchange on the premises.
“BGC Ottawa (formerly the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa) is deeply grateful to the Federal Government, Infrastructure Canada, the Province of Ontario, and the City of Ottawa for investing in our community’s young people. We are humbled and honoured to be able to build a new South End Clubhouse,” said Adam Joiner, CEO, BGC Ottawa.
“We cannot do this work alone. We are looking forward to working with our strong community partners to see this project fully funded for both capital and operations and constructed by the end of 2021.”
When completed, the clubhouse will serve one of Ottawa’s most at-risk communities, Ottawa South, and will increase building capacity by allowing more space for social distancing and other COVID-19 precautions. This project will provide more youth the opportunity to receive the support they need in a safe and protected environment for years to come.
The COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, implemented in response to the pandemic, allows the Government of Canada to invest up to 80% of eligible costs for projects in provinces, and up to 100 per cent for projects in territories and Indigenous communities. The Province of Ontario will invest 20 per cent of the eligible costs for projects across the province.
Through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, more than $3 billion is available to provide provinces and territories with added flexibility to fund quick-start, short term projects. Across Ontario, the Government of Canada has invested more than $14 billion in over 3,400 infrastructure projects.
