Ontario Supporting the Gord Brown Memorial Rink

Providing capital funding for safe outdoor activities in Gananoque

March 18, 2022

GANANOQUE — The Ontario government is providing the Town of Gananoque with $250,000 to support the completion of the Gord Brown Memorial Canada 150 Outdoor Rink. The outdoor ice rink, named in memory of the late MP Gord Brown, will provide year-round opportunities to enjoy sports and recreational activities.

The announcement was made in Gananoque today by Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, where she was joined by Steve Clark, Minister for Municipal Affairs and Housing and MPP for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, Ted Lojko, Mayor of the Town of Gananoque, and Michael Barrett, MP for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

“Gord Brown believed in the value of sports and recreation. He knew that opportunities to participate in sport improve a community’s quality of life – and he knew the Canada 150 rink would be great for the Town of Gananoque,” said Minister MacLeod. “That’s why this investment to complete the Gord Brown Memorial Canada 150 Outdoor Rink is so important. The rink will provide the local community with year-round outdoor sporting events and recreational programming that will encourage people to come together safely, while promoting a sense of pride of people and place. Our government is proud to support this important project and honour Gord’s vision for the Town of Gananoque.”

Capital funding from the province will be used to finalize construction and prepare the rink for public use. Once completed, the rink will be used for activities such as hockey and skating in the winter, and basketball, pickleball and ball hockey in the summer.

“As one of Gord’s long-time friends, I’m proud to have championed this much-needed funding with our government and Minister MacLeod, which has been key to finalizing this outdoor rink so families can enjoy it for generations to come,” said Steve Clark, Minister for Municipal Affairs and Housing and MPP for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “I’m passionate about celebrating and honouring Gord’s legacy and leadership in our community, and the Gord Brown Memorial Canada 150 Outdoor Rink is the perfect way to do just that.”

“I am thrilled that Gord Brown’s legacy and his dream for the community is being honoured in a way that will bring families and friends together to enjoy sports and activities, and I am proud of all the dedication and work on making the Gord Brown Memorial Canada 150 Outdoor Rink a reality for the Town of Gananoque,” said Michael Barrett, MP for.

For more information and status updates about the Gord Brown Memorial Canada 150 Outdoor Rink, please visit the Town of Gananoque website.

QUICK FACTS

  • MP Gordon Brown represented the riding of Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes from 2004 until his death in 2018.
  • The rink was originally installed on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in 2017 as part of the Canada 150 celebrations. As MP, Mr. Brown led the committee to bring the rink – including the boards, glass, scoreboard and lighting – to Gananoque as part of the Canada 150 Legacy project.
  • Following a successful competition for the rink, town council voted to name it the Gord Brown Memorial Canada 150 Outdoor Rink.
  • Capital funding for this project will be administered through the Ontario Trillium Foundation – an agency of the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries that invests in community projects and partnerships to build healthy and vibrant Ontario communities.

MEDIA CONTACT                                                                                              
Erin Merkley

Constituency Assistant

erin.merkley@pc.ola.org