Minister Philpott congratulates the community of ?aq?am on the grand opening of their new gymnasium

CRANBROOK, BC, April 6, 2018 /CNW/ - The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, today extended her congratulations to the community of ?aq?am, located near Cranbrook, British Columbia, on the grand opening of their new gymnasium.

The gymnasium is an addition to the ?aq?amnik School, which opened in 2012. The new facility also features a commercial kitchen, stage, and mezzanine with exercise room and viewing area. Students at the school and children enrolled in daycare will be able to use the new gymnasium for sport, physical activity and recreation. The First Nation also hopes to use the space as a recreational hub for their community health and wellness programs.

?aq?am is one of 20 First Nations in British Columbia that benefitted from $12.6 million in support of 24 education infrastructure projects in 2016-2017.

Quotes

"Congratulations to the community of ?aq?am on the completion of your new gymnasium. Indigenous Services Canada is pleased to have been able to support you in this project. This new space will make a great addition to the ?aq?amnik School, and positively contribute to the overall health and well-being of residents."

The Honourable Jane Philpott
Minister of Indigenous Services

"The completion of this facility is the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance by our community. As a child, I recall wishing for a space like this to exist and hearing the same wish from the community overall through the years. This vision was identified again within ka kni?wi·tiya?a -- our community strategic plan -- and set as a priority for our community. We began working towards the implementation of this vision in 2012 with the completion of our school, and after much hard work and determination we can finally celebrate the completion of our educational facility. We are very grateful to Indigenous Services Canada and Columbia Basin Trust for their contributions in making this facility a reality."

Nasu?kin (Chief) Joe Pierre Jr.
The Community of ?aq?am

Quick Facts

• ?aq?am has an on-reserve population of about 190. The community is located near Cranbrook, British Columbia, about a 10-hour drive from Vancouver.
• Budget 2016 invests $969.4 million over five years for the construction, repair and maintenance of First Nations school facilities as part of a long-term strategy to improve education infrastructure in First Nations communities.

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Budget 2016

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SOURCE Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada