The Manitoba government has announced that it is investing up to $5 million in Le Rendez-Vous Community, Culture and Recreational Campus located in the francophone community of St-Pierre-Jolys, an investment that will transform the existing St-Pierre-Jolys arena and expand it into a regional activity hub while preserving and promoting the local French culture.
“This new critical infrastructure for St-Pierre-Jolys will meet the recreational needs of this growing community while honouring the unique cultural roots that make this part of Manitoba a special place to raise a family,” said Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard. “I am so proud that local families will soon have a new revitalized community and recreation centre where they can play and learn in both official languages. I congratulate everyone involved for their vision and commitment, and for embracing our goal of making Manitoba a truly bilingual province.”
The grant for Le Rendez-Vous Community, Culture and Recreation Campus will be made through Manitoba Growth, Renewal and Opportunities for Municipalities (Manitoba GRO). Total estimated cost for the project is $20 million, noted the minister.
“This investment underscores the province’s commitment to sustaining strong communities across Manitoba,” said Mayor Raymond Maynard, Village of St-Pierre-Jolys. “The people of southeastern Manitoba are proud of our histories and how we’ve always come together to make life great – not just for our own families or towns, but for our neighbours throughout the region. The original arena was built by hand by volunteers who came together to create a gathering space that would enrich life for everyone. Now, as our region grows and welcomes new families to work and play, we look forward to providing the amenities they need to belong and thrive.”
When completed, the new centre will feature community spaces designed for creative and fun programming, wellness activities, cultural activities and concerts, as well as festivals and celebrations, noted the minister, adding the inclusion of a new library means the regional library, which was at risk of closing, will be saved and a new, permanent home with expanded services will continue to serve the region.
The Manitoba GRO program is a one-time application-based program that was launched on Oct. 11, 2024. In 2024, the program received 200 applications from 123 municipalities, totalling an estimated $120.1 million in program funding requests on projects valued at approximately $259.6 million.
