Canada Games Centre: a community's vision realized

The Canada Games Centre was officially unveiled to the public on January 15. Thousands of people walked through the doors to take in one of the main legacy pieces of the 2011 Canada Winter Games.

At 176,000 square feet and $44-million to build, the facility is a far cry from some of the slighter options HRM presented to the community in 2005.

Those options included various plans to construct a recreation facility that would be significantly smaller and cost much less to build and even a plan to retro-fit the aging Northcliffe Pool.

While these options were soundly rejected by the community, HRM at the time appeared unwilling to re-think the project in spite of ongoing feedback from the community.

On June 16, 2005, the Mainland Common Recreation Centre Board (a community committee organized by HRM) presented a limited plan to the public to build a small leisure pool. Meeting attendees disapproved of the limited size and scope of the plan. Reeling from the public recoil, members of the Board resigned. One month following the meeting, the Board had two members remaining, was without quorum and was officially dissolved by HRM.

On October 19, 2005, HRM staff presented revised facility plan options at Halifax West High School auditorium but refused to engage members of the public who insisted on asking questions from the floor. There was a general sense of dissatisfaction with the limited size of the plan options with many members of the community leaving the meeting frustrated and bewildered.

The citizens of Mainland North did eventually get to speak.

On November 2, 2005 Diana Whalen, MLA for Clayton Park, hosted a town hall style meeting in the same auditorium at Halifax West High. This time the community had its say.

Those in attendance were encouraged to speak, one at a time, about their thoughts on what the facility should be. There was a general consensus that a large-scale multi-purpose facility was needed, and the Build It Right Citizen Action Group was formed.

In the months and years that followed, the Build It Right group was a strong voice for a community advocating for the construction of a large multi-purpose facility in the range of 180,000 square feet. Using a variety of public awareness tools including lawn signs, petitions, letters to the editor and public meetings, the Build It Right group was in constant dialogue with the community, news media, HRM staff and HRM Counsellors about the inadequacy of their plans to build a 30,000 square foot facility.

Reluctant to press forward with plans that would have seen a completed facility erected by the summer of 2009, HRM quietly looked for other ways to build a facility that would satisfy the community’s need.

Enter the 2011 Canada Games bid.

In January 2007 Halifax officially announced it would be vying to be the host of the 2011 Canada Winter Games. Also bidding to be hosts were the towns of Truro and Antigonish. At the time Build It Right applauded HRM’s foresight in awaiting the provincial government’s decision on a host before moving ahead with facility construction. Build it Right also encouraged HRM to withstand the pressure to begin facility construction until the Commonwealth Games host city was announced in November 2007.

On February 2, 2007 Premier Rodney MacDonald officially announced that Halifax would be the host city for the 2011 Canada Games. In March 2007, the provincial government withdrew its support for the $1.7-billion Commonwealth Games bid and the following day, HRM Council did the same. This paved the way for construction of a large-scale facility.

On August 6, 2008 MP Peter MacKay, Premier Rodney MacDonald, and Mayor Peter Kelly announced a new $40.5-million funding arrangement to build the Mainland Common Recreation Centre.

While some of the most desired components of the community were left out of the plans (including a 50-metre pool and hockey rinks), the 176,000 square foot facility - including a 8-lane 25-metre competition pool and field house with indoor track - were a welcome improvement and deemed well worth the community's patience and persistence.