Ottawa to spend $166 million to help expand Calgary’s BMO Convention Centre

CALGARY — The federal government will help bankroll the expansion of the largest convention centre in Calgary.

Ottawa says it will contribute $166.6 million toward a project that aims to more than double the size of the BMO Convention and Trade Centre.

Infrastructure Minister François-Philippe Champagne says the project will transform the BMO Centre with new spaces for conferences, meetings, exhibitions and consumer shows.

Once complete it could host larger conventions and events, boosting tourism.

The government says the project is expected to create more than 1,800 jobs during construction and 500 new full-time positions once complete.

The provincial government and the city are each providing the remaining two-thirds of the funding.

"An expanded convention centre is a key part of Calgary's plans for downtown," Mayor Naheed Nenshi said in a release Tuesday.

"Not only will this investment in the BMO Centre create jobs, this project is an opportunity to boost Calgary's travel and tourism sector and our overall economy."

The Canadian Press