More than $53 million in joint funding for 24 recreation and green infrastructure projects in Saskatchewan will help the province address infrastructure improvements to arenas, swimming pools, and outdoor facilities, as well as support solar energy projects.
The two new solar energy projects, including the Awasis Solar Project on land owned by Cowessess First Nation southeast of Regina, will supply clean energy directly to the Saskatchewan electrical grid. SaskPower is also set to implement a battery energy storage project that will help balance the power system during power demand spikes and support intermittent generation options such as wind and solar.
Moreover, investments in water and wastewater infrastructure in several Saskatchewan municipalities will improve capacity to meet current and future demand while ensuring continued compliance with provincial and federal regulations.
“From swimming pools to solar projects, the Government of Canada is taking actions to support families, businesses, and the economy in Saskatchewan and across the country now, so that we can build resilient communities for years to come,” said Jim Carr, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for the Prairies. “The funding announced today will help communities build back better, create jobs, and build cleaner, more inclusive communities.”
Providing communities with reliable, ecofriendly, and sustainable infrastructure is a shared priority for both governments. The Government of Canada is investing more than $31.1 million in these 24 projects through the Investing in Canada plan, with the Government of Saskatchewan providing over $22.7 million. Contributions by recipients toward their respective projects are more than $7.2 million.
“Cowessess First Nation strives to be an economic self-sustaining partner in the growth of the province and Country. This goal becomes a reality when the plan includes investment from the government,” said Chief Cadmus Delorme, Cowessess First Nation. “As the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action provide us all direction to bridge the gap, Cowessess First Nation will help this province and country in renewable energy to assure our seven generations ahead may have a sustainable place to call home.”
Recreation infrastructure projects funded under the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream
| Location | Project Name | Project Details | Federal Funding |
Provincial Funding |
Municipal / Other Funding |
| Indian Head, Town of |
Swimming Pool Renovation |
Build a new outdoor swimming pool, with a lap pool, leisure pool, waterslide feature and beach entry area. |
$704,813 | $587,285 | $469,934 |
| Pense, Village of |
Arena Flooring and Piping Upgrades |
Replace the brine piping system in both the skating arena and curling rink and install a new flooring base. |
$342,440 | $285,338 | $228,322 |
| Rockglen, Town of |
Rinks Plant Project |
Combine the skating and curling rink ice together as one plant and update the safety controls, brine pumps, and condenser. |
$176,000 | $146,650 | $117,348 |
| Sturgeon Lake, First Nations of |
Children’s Playgrounds |
Install accessible, safe and modern playground equipment for youth. |
$223,951 | $74,650 | $0 |
| Turtleford, Town of |
Spray and Play | Build an outdoor recreational facility. |
$63,000 | $52,495 | $42,005 |
| Watson, Town of |
McNab Regional Park Authority Clubhouse Renovation |
Replace the existing shower house according to the highest accessibility an environmental standards, and install a high- efficiency furnace and on-demand water heaters, floor heat, LED lighting and appropriate ventilation. |
$99,514 | $82,920 | $66,351 |
| Willow Bunch No. 42, Rural Municipality of |
Swimming Pool Showerhouse Revitalization– Jean Louis Legare Regional Park Authority |
Renovate the existing shower house building. |
$32,000 | $26,664 | $21,336 |
| Total federal, provincial and municipal / other funding | $1,641,718 | $1,256,002 | $945,296 | ||
Drinking water, waste water, solid waste management, and clean energy projects funded under the Green Infrastructure Stream
| Location | Project Name | Project Details | Federal Funding |
Provincial Funding |
Municipal / Other Funding |
| Balcarres, Town of |
New Well Project | Construct two new wells and replace raw water pipeline. |
$392,000 | $326,634 | $261,366 |
| Britannia No. 502, Rural Municipality of |
Greenstreet Lagoon Expansion |
Increase capacity of the lagoon cells and meet effluent limits. |
$237,150 | $197,606 | $158,120 |
| Ceylon, Village of |
Water Treatment Plant Upgrades |
Install a new mechanical piping and filtration system and new distribution pumps to meet current demand. |
$119,721 | $99,757 | $79,824 |
| Cowessess First Nation |
SaskPower – Awasis 10MW Solar Interconnection |
Connect the Awasis Solar Project to the provincial electrical grid. |
$1,702,500 | *$1,702,500 | $0 |
| Edenwold No. 158, Rural Municipality of |
Awasis Solar – 10 MW Project |
Implement the Awasis Solar Project. |
$3,500,000 | $0 | $1,166,667 |
| Frontier, Village of |
Landfill Decommissioning |
Conduct environmental site assessments, and decommission the landfill. |
$408,568 | $340,439 | $272,413 |
| Lakeland No. 521, Rural Municipality of |
McPhee Lake Landfill Cover |
Provide final cover for the landfill and return the site to a vegetated area. |
$141,308 | $117,745 | $94,217 |
| Macklin, Town of |
Cast Iron Water Main Replacement |
Replace the current cast iron water main lines and replace them with PVC lines. |
$791,502 | $659,519 | $527,734 |
| Ogema, Town of |
Wastewater Infrastructure Upgrades |
Upgrade the wastewater infrastructure including the construction of new cells, sewage force main, sewage lift station, effluent irrigation system, reject water discharge line, and associated works. |
$1,125,200 | $937,573 | $750,227 |
| Pilger, Village of |
Treatment Plant Upgrade |
Install a reverse osmosis filtration system, chemical feed system, distribution piping, and perform associated electrical, mechanical, and civil works. |
$170,400 | $141,986 | $113,614 |
| Porcupine Plain, Town of |
Landfill Closure — Porcupine Regional Waste Management Authority |
Decommission and close the existing municipal landfill site. |
$60,251 | $50,204 | $40,173 |
| Regina, City of |
SaskPower – Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) |
Implement a project that will help balance the power system during power demand spikes and support intermittent generation options such as wind and solar. |
$13,114,675 | *$13,114,675 | $0 |
| Saltcoats, Town of |
Landfill Corrective Action and Closure |
Prepare and implement a corrective action and closure plan, including grading, cap barrier and topsoil placement. |
$76,840 | $64,027 | $51,233 |
| Spiritwood, Town of |
Sewage Pumping Station Replacements |
Decommission and replace two sewage pumping stations. |
$844,800 | $703,930 | $563,270 |
| Weyburn No. 67, Rural Municipality of |
Pesâkâstêw Solar Project |
Implement the Pesâkâstêw Solar Project |
$3,500,000 | $0 | $1,166,667 |
| Weyburn No. 67, Rural Municipality of |
SaskPower – Pesâkâstêw 10MW Solar Interconnection |
Connect the Pesâkâstêw Solar Project to the provincial electrical grid |
$1,695,000 | *$1,695,000 | $0 |
| Wynyard, Town of |
Cast Iron Water Mains Replacement |
Replace the current cast iron water mains and associated works. |
$1,586,084 | $1,321,604 | $1,057,522 |
| Total federal, provincial and municipal / other funding | $29,465,999 | $21,473,199 | $6,303,047 | ||
*Provincial portion funded by SaskPower, a provincial Crown corporation in Saskatchewan.
Table Source: Infrastructure Canada
Featured image from Awasis Solar.
