$1.45 Million Investment into Bromont Horse Park

Bromont, PQ – Mr. Pierre Paradis, Member of Parliament for Brome-Missisquoi and President of the Commission de l’agriculture, des pêcheries et de l’alimentation, announced today on behalf of Vice-Premier and Minister of Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire, Mrs. Nathalie Normandeau, that the Société d’agriculture du comté de Shefford will benefit from $966,790 in financial aid to realize important infrastructure work at the Bromont Olympic Horse Park. This subvention is granted in accordance with the Programme d’infrastructures Québec-Municipalités (PIQM).

“The investment announced today will allow the Bromont Olympic Horse Park to consolidate and develop the infrastructures necessary to run its activities. With these interventions, the organization will be able to better serve all equestrian events; namely the Three Day Event, the Bromont International Driving, the International Bromont, the Quebec Equestrian Games, the Nouveaux Écuyers program, including numerous tourists visiting from outside the Province. With economic repercussions evaluated at over $21M to the local economy and with 3500 tourists coming mainly from the East Coast of the United States, the International Bromont has established itself as an annual event of choice for Quebec. Its expansion and growth clearly proves that it distinguishes itself not only as a touristic offering Quebec style but also with international flair”, said Mr. Paradis.

The government’s help will contribute to the installation of supplementary infrastructures to bring in quality water in large enough quantity to feed and take care of the horses. For that purpose, the project will include stockpiling and distributing water for the horses, with the construction of a service building linking new wells to the three existing ones. The improvements to the site will also include repairs to the main ring, construction of two new outdoor rings and new stands accommodating 5000 spectators, as well as other complementary work.

This will provide the equestrian park with adequate infrastructure thus enabling it to offer more equestrian events, bringing in more competitors, tourists, and spectators which will increase the economic spinoff to the area. The total eligible investment needed of $1,450,185 will be undertaken by the Government of Quebec in the amount of $966,790 and the Société d’agriculture du comté de Shefford in the amount of $483 395.

“The aid granted today to the Société d’agriculture du comté de Shefford demonstrates the will of our government to support communities in their efforts to improve and maintain their infrastructures. These investments are part of the Plan québécois des infrastructures, which forecasted more than 41,8 billion dollars for 2008 to 2013, with 3,6 billion dollars being used for the maintenance and upgrade of municipal infrastructures”, added Minister Normandeau.

The Executive Director of the Société d’agriculture du comté de Shefford, Mr. Roger Deslauriers and the Mayor of Bromont, Mrs. Pauline Quinlan, are pleased with the support of the Quebec Government in this project, which will allow the Bromont Olympic Horse Park to keep its international reputation while insuring its development, its profitability and the sustainability of its renewed infrastructures.