HUNTSVILLE, Ontario, August 4th, 2009 — The Honourable Tony Clement, Member of Parliament for Parry Sound– Muskoka and Minister of Industry, and Claude Doughty, Mayor of the Town of Huntsville, today marked the start of construction on a 40,000 sq/ft addition to the already underway G8 Centre.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Minister Clement, Mayor Doughty and H. Deep Saini Dean, Faculty of Environment.

The addition to the G8 Centre will be used until the 2010 G8 Huntsville Summit, which will run from June 25-27, 2010 at the Deerhurst Resort, has concluded. After the Summit, the Town of Huntsville will lease the addition to the University of Waterloo for $1 annually, for use as an environmental and ecological wet-research facility.

For its part, the University of Waterloo will develop and deliver cutting-edge programs at the site, and also provide research equipment. The new building will also offer meeting rooms and conference facilities, as well as accommodation for up to 50 guests.

The G8 Centre is a $9-million, 110,000-sq/ft “command centre” for the 2010 G8 Huntsville Summit, built around the existing Huntsville Centennial Centre. It will co-ordinate overall logistics for the event and serve as an accreditation hub with responsibility for vetting close to 25,000 people attending and supporting the event.

Funding for the G8 Centre project is largely provided by the G8 Legacy Infrastructure Fund, a $50-million program announced in February 2009 to prepare the Parry Sound– Muskoka region for hosting the Summit.

The 2010 G8 Summit will generate significant short and long-term economic benefits for the region and the province, and it will be an exceptional opportunity for Canada to shine on a world stage.

For more photos from this event, click here.