Ottawa announces $10 million in funding for curling club in Sydney, N.S.

Sydney, N.S., is getting $10 million for the construction of a new curling club.

The federal government announced it will spend $10 million through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program to help build a new curling facility in Sydney, N.S.

Parliamentary secretaries Jaime Battiste and Mike Kelloway made the announcement with Ian MacInnis, president of the Sydney Curling Club.

“CBRM is growing and so too is our need for social, cultural, and recreational space,” Battiste said.

The new facility will be in Open Hearth Park and replace the Sydney Curling Club on George Street with a facility that features six curling sheets – a 50 per cent expansion in capacity. The building will fully accessible and energy efficient, said a Friday news release.

Membership has more than doubled at the club since 2017, said the release.

“Sydney has hosted curlers from all over Cape Breton and across the country to compete in recreational games and professional tournaments,” said Kelloway. “The funding announced today will ensure that the Sydney Curling Club will continue to be a destination showcasing Cape Breton to athletes from across Canada.”

The GICB launched in 2021 with an initial investment of $1.5 billion. The 2024 budget announced an additional $500 million for the GICB to support more projects through to 2029.