Halifax Wins 2011 Canada Winter Games Bid

Halifax has won their bid for the 2011 Canada Winter Games. The win was first reported in the February 2 edition of the Chronicle Herald and was later confirmed today at a news conference by Premier Rodney MacDonald and Sue Hylland, president and CEO of the Canada Games Council.

Halifax's successful bid included plans to build a $6-million fieldhouse on the Mainland Common. The Build-It-Right Community Action group (BIR) supported the bid in hopes a win would oblige HRM to alter their current plans for the Mainland Common Recreation Centre which were not satisfactory to meet the growing needs of the surrounding community.

Prior to winning the games bid, HRM had planned to build a $14.5-million recreation centre in partnership with the YMCA featuring a lane pool similar in size to Northcliffe, a leisure pool, an small-sized gymnasium, meeting rooms, and a fitness centre.

These plans will now be revised to include a full-sized fieldhouse, which could also be used for the 2014 Commonwealth Games if Halifax is successful in that bid. With fieldhouse funding now in place, the Build It Right group is optimistic funds already committed to the joint YMCA/HRM project may now be used to enhance the proposed pool and meeting room facilities.

Waiting pays off

In 2005, HRM announced a proposal to construct an $8-million replacement for Northcliffe Pool. At a mere 25,000 square feet (about the size of the Keshen Goodman Public Library), the project was scheduled for completion some time in 2007.

Through lobbying, the Build It Right Group was succuessful in helping to convince HRM to delay construction in search of a better solution. Most recently, the Build It Right Group applauded HRM for waiting for the 2011 Canada Games bid decision before moving forward with construction plans. To ensure the most appropriately sized facility is built the Build it Right Group continues to encourage HRM to wait for the 2014 Commonwealth Games announcement in November 2007 before finalizing plans for the Mainland Common Recreation Centre.

• Winter Games to cost $31 million
  (Daily News - 02/03/07)
• Athletes accommodations key to landing Games
  (Chronicle Herald - 02/03/07)
• Games win lands new field house
  (Chronicle Herald - 02/03/07)
• Halifax lands 2011 Canada Games
  (Chronicle Herald - 02/02/07)
• Halifax hosting 2011 Canada Winter Games
  (CBC.ca - 02/02/07)
• Halifax wins Canada Winter Games bid
  Daily News - 02/02/07)
• Games could garner $6m athletics complex
  (Daily News - 01/17/07)