THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay-Superior North’s member of Parliament says Marathon has her support as it seeks federal funding for a sports and recreation centre
“I’ve been working with the mayor of Marathon on a potential route towards getting some of the shortfall covered through federal investment,” Patty Hajdu said Friday after an unrelated announcement at Lakehead University.
“The most likely pathway will be through the Infrastructure Canada funds,” she said.
Marathon Mayor Rick Dumas confirmed Friday that the town has filed a funding application with the federal Green Municipal Fund for $35 million.
A $15-million funding application with the Ontario government will be filed soon, he added.
Designs for the two-storey, 100,000-square-foot Marathon Active Living Centre building include a lap pool, a leisure pool, a hockey rink, changing rooms, a gym, a seniors room, bowling lanes and gallery exhibit space.
Space for pickleball, basketball and other activities is allocated for the grounds outside the building.
A former mill property on the shore of Lake Superior has been designated as the facility’s future site.
The town hopes to have construction begin next year for completion in 2028.
Nearby Biigtigong (Pic River) and Netmizaaggamig (Pic Mobert) First Nations have committed to providing a combined $1.5 million to help finance construction.
Hajdu is Indigenous services minister and minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor).