Prime Minister stephen harper Participates in Centennial of the City of Dryden

May 22, 2010

Dryden, Ontario – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today visited Dryden, Ontario, to mark the Centennial of the founding of the city.  He was joined by Greg Rickford, Member of Parliament for Kenora, and Anne Krassilowsky, Mayor of Dryden.
 
“Dryden was settled by tough pioneers who saw the region’s great potential in forestry, farming and mining,” said Prime Minister Harper.  “Dryden has achieved much in its first century and is poised to achieve even more in the future.  Our Government is contributing to the city’s future by supporting both a major new upgrade at the Domtar Pulp Mill and a new state-of-the-art water treatment plant.”
 
The Government of Canada is also supporting the 2010 centennial anniversary celebrations which feature several commemorative activities that highlight the work of local artists, including musical performances and an arts festival.  A centennial air show featuring the Canadian Snowbirds is also one of the main attractions.
 
“The values and virtues of the pioneers who built this city and our country are still driving Canada forward today,” said the Prime Minister.  “In that spirit, Canada is coming out of this recession faster, stronger and in a better position than any country on earth.”
 
Dryden was founded as an agricultural community in 1895 by John Dryden, who was Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture at the time. It became a town in 1910.
 
 
 
Backgrounder
A Brief History of Dryden
 
The city of Dryden is located in Northwestern Ontario.  The Dryden area was originally part of the Ojibway nation.  Prior to settlement the indigenous inhabitants of the area used the shores by the rapids of the Wabigoon River as a camping and meeting place.  They called this special area Paawidigong, meaning "The Place of the Rapids" in the Ojibway language. 
 
A settlement was founded in 1895 by John Dryden, who was Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture at the time.  Pulp and paper came to Dryden in 1910, the year Dryden officially became a town.  In 1998, Dryden amalgamated with the neighbouring township of Barclay to form the new city of Dryden.
 
Pulp and paper remains the city’s principal industry with agriculture, tourism and mining also contributing to the local economy.
 
Recent Federal Government Support for Dryden
 
In the last two years the Federal Government has contributed significantly to economic and social development in Dryden.  Examples include:
 

• $22,700,000 under the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program  for two capital improvements at the Domtar Dryden Mill that will allow the  mill to produce more renewable energy and improve its energy efficiency. This  will allow the mill to reduce the amount of power it purchases — balancing its  power budget and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. (announced on May 22,  2010).
• $154,000  to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the City of Dryden under the Building  Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program. (announced on January 19,  2010).
• $9,966,666  million  towards a new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant in Dryden under the  Building Canada Fund (announced on June 5, 2009).
• $1,470,000 towards the expansion of Dryden’s Industrial Park and  the Norwill Subdivision through the Community Adjustment Fund (announced on  August 27, 2009).
• $600,000  towards water meter implementation in Dryden under the Infrastructure Stimulus  Fund (announced on June 5, 2009).
• $265,833  towards upgrades of baseball diamonds in the City of Dryden  under the Recreational Infrastructure  Program (announced on July 7, 2009)