University News

For immediate release

Today at Bishop's University, Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, Minister of Health and Social Services, Minister responsible for Seniors, Minister responsible for the Estrie region and MNA for Saint-François, Dr. Réjean Hébert, on behalf of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Minister of Transport and MNA for Jonquière, Sylvain Gaudreault, the Mayor of Sherbrooke, Bernard Sévigny, and the Principal of Bishop's University, Mr. Michael Goldbloom, attended the official launch of the construction work for the new multi-purpose sports facility at Bishop's University. In the presence of dignitaries, students, staff, Sherbrooke residents, and visitors, they commented on the importance of this great project before proceeding with official photos of the long-awaited "groundbreaking" event.

Physical activity and well-being are fundamental to the set of values that govern education at Bishop's University and Champlain Regional College in Lennoxville, which share some campus facilities, including the sports centre. Sports participation and community involvement are key links in the student experience as a whole. The new multi-purpose sports centre will provide many opportunities for student-athletes, members of the Bishop's community, citizens of the City of Sherbrooke, and visitors to enjoy the facilities and sports equipment as well as services related to general well-being.

"This renovation, redevelopment and expansion of our sports facilities is the most significant in the history of our University in terms of infrastructure investment,” said Principal Michael Goldbloom of Bishop's University. “On behalf of all members of the Bishop's community, I would like to thank all three levels of government that worked together to make this investment possible.”

More than 40% of students at Bishop's University come from within the province of Quebec. Although Bishop’s is an English institution, the University is proud of the fact that over 20% of its students are French-speaking. During the academic year the campus hosts teams that come to compete against the Bishop's Gaiters and Champlain Cougars, as Champlain Regional College shares athletics facilities with the University. Every summer, sports teams and interest groups of all kinds come to enjoy the beauty of the campus as well as the convenience of the facilities. The Montreal Alouettes have chosen to conduct their annual training camp at Bishop's for the fourth consecutive year and will be on campus at the end of this month. In 2012, Rugby Quebec held its junior national competition at Bishop’s, hosting athletes from across Canada. This summer, over 1,000 athletes from every province and territory will come to participate in the Canada Games. The University campus will be transformed into the athletes' village, soccer games will be contested at Coulter Field, and basketball games will be played at Mitchell Gymnasium.

The redevelopment of the John H. Price Sports Centre, originally built in 1975, consists of:

• Refitting the existing sports centre, including construction of a multi-purpose room for fitness and aerobics, expansion of the training room, and the addition of two classrooms, a reception room with kitchen, and new dressing rooms, as well as office renovations;
• Construction of an 800-seat arena, including dressing rooms, storage rooms, a garage for the ice resurfacing machine (Zamboni), and parking;
• Construction of a double gymnasium and a building linking the existing sports centre and the new arena, including the addition of a food court, washrooms, dressing rooms, storage space,  administrative offices, and two classrooms; and
• Exterior landscaping work.

The governments of Canada and Quebec will each contribute up to $13.25 million, while the City of Sherbrooke will invest $3 million towards the project.

In addition to these investments, the University will raise funds in order to equip the sports centre and make it one of the best facilities in the region, indeed among the best found on campuses across Canada. Bishop's will purchase new fitness equipment, an ice resurfacing machine (Zamboni), and the furnishings for team rooms. As the plans for the facilities include an exterior terrace, funding for its furniture and landscaping would greatly benefit the beautification of the space. Bishop’s plans to achieve its fundraising goals thanks to gifts and donor support in time for the scheduled opening of the new facilities in 2014.

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