Ottawa, ON – On Friday, November 25th, local MPP John Fraser met with the team at the RA Centre to celebrate the $500,000 Community Building Fund – Capital Stream from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) and the $100,000 grant from the Tourism Relief Fund that was used to create accessible and inclusive community spaces. The project was completed in November 2022 and will improve community access to programs and events at the RA Curling Centre of Excellence and the broader RA Centre for years to come.

“The RA Centre is at the heart of our community here in Ottawa South,” said John Fraser, MPP for Ottawa South. “It has provided thousands of children, families, and seniors a place to find new passions, make friends and engage in their community. The grants received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation Community Building Fund – Capital Stream and the Tourism Relief Fund will help expand the RA Centre’s services and bolster the positive impact it has on residents. The Curling Center of Excellence will allow residents to explore and embrace the sport right here in Ottawa. By improving accessibility, this funding will help the RA centre continue to open new doors for our children and break down barriers for everyone that lives and plays here.”

The creation of accessible and barrier-free community amenities included the renovation of washrooms and the locker and changing facilities to meet universal and accessibility standards creating open, safe, and barrier-free spaces for everyone. The RA Curling Centre of Excellence supports a variety of activities from community grassroots sport to national level events.

“Ottawa Tourism applauds these renovations to the RA Centre, an important partner of ours,” said Michael Crockatt, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “Having accessible, high-quality sporting facilities is essential in order to attract major events to our city and the visitors and spending they represent.”

“The impact of the Ontario Trillium Foundation Community Building Fund – Capital Stream and Tourism Relief Fund cannot be overstated,” said Tosha, CEO of the RA Centre “This grant has allowed needed renovations to be made to a 40-year-old facility. The Curling Centre of Excellence will continue to evolve to support community needs and tourism opportunities.”

The RA Centre is committed to continued development of the Curling Centre of Excellence to improve accessibility and inclusivity for years to come. The Curling Centre for Excellence is a multi-phase project that supports curling across several ages and stages of development. The project began in September 2021 with the development of a competition level, arena-style, five sheet curling arena. The second phase included the development of the community spaces that have been supported by the OTF and Ottawa Tourism grants. Future phases will focus on accessible viewing stands and the building envelope.