HUMBOLDT — The City of Humboldt will not receive a grant that would have paid the majority of the costs for a $34.7 million Humboldt Broncos Tribute Centre.
The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program has a two step process: 1) approval by the provincial government; and then 2) approval by the federal government. The city said in a July 15 media release that while it was eligible to get the grant, the province will not forward the grant application to the federal government due to an overwhelming amount of other requests.
“This is a disappointment. However, we can appreciate that there were other applicants whose needs are similar, perhaps on a smaller scale,” said Michael Behiel, Humboldt's mayor. “The needs identified through the feasibility studies illustrated that our growing community will need an additional ice surface, as well as conference and convention space, so we will evaluate our options to continue moving forward in planning for a new facility.”
The city said it intends to continue working with the provincial and federal governments to find an appropriate grant program that can assist with the project.
If the application to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program was successful, the federal and provincial governments would have paid $25 million of the estimated $34.7 million cost.
The city said it and the Humboldt Broncos Memorials Committee remain passionate about the vision of a roadside memorial at the site of the tragedy at the intersection of Highways 35 and 335 north of Tisdale and of the Broncos Tribute Centre in Humboldt.
“The significance of this project cannot be overlooked,” said Kurt Leicht, member of the Humboldt Broncos Memorials Committee and father of Jacob Leicht, one of the 16 who lost their life in the bus tragedy. “The purpose and meaning of a Tribute Centre goes far beyond what some may imagine. It will not only meet the needs of the community, but also recognize the support from all over the world, the resiliency of the families and the community and be an appropriate tribute to those involved in the tragedy.”
