Canadians everywhere are feeling the impact of COVID-19, on their families, their livelihoods and their way of life. Together, Canada and Ontario are working to reduce the impact of the pandemic, ensure health and safety, rebuild businesses, and promote job creation, growth and investment.

“For over 170 years, the Ancaster Fair has been deeply rooted in Hamilton, enriching community life with fairs, tradeshows, music events and summer camps. Improvement projects like this one, and those announced today, provide increased opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy learning about art, agriculture, and history, while building stronger community connections. Funding from the Government of Canada and our partners will help to establish these fantastic facilities as some of the best educational and cultural spaces in Southern Ontario. Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country, and builds cleaner, more inclusive communities."

The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Federal Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“Investments in culture and recreational infrastructure are essential to building inclusive, connected communities. Funding to improve the Ancaster Fairgrounds, Dundas Valley School of Art, and the Hamilton Children’s Museum mean that these dynamic facilities will provide increased opportunities for residents and visitors to explore, learn, and have fun for years to come.”

Bob Bratina, Member of Parliament for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek

“The Ancaster Fairgrounds tradeshow and event facilities are currently at capacity and booked almost every weekend throughout the year. Our government’s investment of $1.34 million dollars will allow the fairgrounds to accommodate large shows that they are currently turning away. Our government is also contributing nearly $1.2 million toward the construction of an addition for the Hamilton Children’s Museum. These investments will draw more visitors to these attractions as they recover from the impact of the pandemic.”

Donna Skelly, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and Member of Provincial Parliament for Flamborough—Glanbrook, on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure

“The City of Hamilton is grateful for this investment to enhance and preserve our Ancaster Fairgrounds, Hamilton Children’s Museum and Dundas Valley School of Art. The funding will ensure these iconic culture and recreation facilities are more accessible, energy efficient and ultimately, see residents and visitors alike enjoy them to their full extent. Thank you to our federal and provincial partners for their investment in preserving three of our integral culture spaces.”

His Worship Fred Eisenberger, Mayor, City of Hamilton

“This 75,000sqft expansion allows the Ancaster Fairgrounds to continue to be Rooted in the Community-Growing for the Future.”

Jillian Ferguson, President, Ancaster Agricultural Society 

“We are thrilled to be moving forward with making improvements to the school that provide students with a more fully accessible learning environment while also protecting an important heritage building, and significantly reducing our environmental footprint.”

Claire Loughheed, Executive Director, Dundas Valley School of Art

• Through the Investing in Canada plan, the federal government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

• Across Ontario, the Government of Canada has invested more than $8.2 billion in over 2,780 infrastructure projects.

• Across the province and over the next ten years, Ontario is investing approximately $320 million and Canada is investing approximately $407 million under the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. This stream supports the construction of new facilities and upgrades to existing facilities that improve community infrastructure (community centres, libraries), and support upgrades to recreational venues (arenas, and both indoor and outdoor recreational spaces) and cultural spaces (theatres, museums).

• Ontario is investing over $10.2 billion under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to improve public transit; community, culture and recreation; green, and rural and northern community and other priority infrastructure.

Related products

• Backgrounder

Associated links

• Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario
• Investing in Canada Plan Project Map
• Ontario Builds Project Map

Chantalle Aubertin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-941-0660
chantalle.aubertin@canada.ca

Christine Bujold
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure
416-454-1782
christine.bujold@ontario.ca

Sofia Sousa-Dias
Communications Branch
Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure
437-991-3391
sofia.sousa-Dias@ontario.ca

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