Elizabeth Metis Settlement, Alberta, April 29, 2024 — Upgrades to the local community hall will create a better and more energy efficient gathering space after an investment of nearly $250,000 from the federal government.

Announced by Minister Randy Boissonnault and Elizabeth Metis Settlement Chairperson Kathy Lepine, this project will improve the main community facility in the settlement where people gather for cultural, recreational and local activities throughout the year.

Upgrades are underway to the community hall that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintenance costs through the replacement of furnaces, installation of smart thermostats, low flow water fixtures, LED lighting and solar power. The Elizabeth Metis Settlement Community Hall is located in the centre of the community and is widely used by everyone living in the area as a meeting place for social activities and celebrations. The facility is a common gathering place for youth and seniors and houses a stage for live performances, a kitchen, a health nurse station, exterior playgrounds and baseball fields. As such a central and important hub to the community, improvements to the facility will increase the quality of life for all members of the Elizabeth Metis Settlement.

Funding announced today by the federal government through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program aims to improve the places Canadians work, learn, play, live and come together by cutting pollution, reducing costs, and supporting thousands of good jobs. Through green and other upgrades to existing public community buildings and new builds in underserved communities, the GICB program helps ensure community facilities are inclusive, accessible, and have a long service life, while also helping Canada move towards its net-zero objectives by 2050.