Upwards of $540,000 worth of upgrades and repairs is being committed to the Chatham Armoury.
The funding is courtesy of the Federal Government, over the next two-years, for items like emergency lighting, heating and ventilation systems, and roof repairs. Commanding officer of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment Major Mark Douglas says while they aren't sexy, the upgrades will improve morale.
"Not only individual (morale) as a soldier, that they belong to a proper, modern sort of organization, but that sort of translates into efficiency as a group," says Douglas. Money will also be set aside for the Cedar Springs Range and Training Area to repair target areas, as well as the obstacle course which hasn't been in use for several years because of rotted wood, old ropes, and other safety issues.
The Chatham Armoury was built in 2006 and currently supports about 40 soldiers, but was built to support 100 soldiers. Chatham-Kent-Essex MP Dave Van Kesteren says the funding is contingent on his Conservative government's reelection in the fall, or that a new elected government doesn't remove it from the budget.