News Alerts

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.

By BILL POWER Staff Reporter

Move over Canada Games skating oval. There’s a new kid in town.

The Canada Games Centre — the $44-million star of the Feb. 11-27 athletic event — flexed its user-friendly muscles Saturday at an official opening that attracted boatloads of welcoming politicians, athletes, friends of fitness and supporters of the Games.

The ongoing legacy of the abandoned Commonwealth Games on recreational athletics is occasionally positive, occasionally dubious

by Mike Landry

It was "a dark day for Halifax, a dark day for Nova Scotia, and a dark day for Canada." At least that's how a heated Halifax 2014 Board of Directors Chair, Fred MacGillivray, saw it after the city withdrew its Commonwealth Games bid.

A community swimming pool in Clayton Park could be torn down to make way for a bigger bus terminal for the area.

Metro Transit wants to relocate the Lacewood bus terminal in the Halifax neighbourhood, which officials say is overcrowded and in need of an upgrade.

The $40-million facility being built on the Halifax Mainland Common has been officially named the Canada Games Centre.

To the Editor:

The issue of the Mainland Common Recreation Centre will likely celebrate its 10th anniversary before the facility is opened in 2011. As has been stated previously in this paper, the size and cost of the facility has grown over the years, starting at $8 million and ending up at $40 million. This recreation centre will be a great addition to the Mainland Common, but the long journey has illustrated some critical problems with our municipal government.

The three local councillors, Debbie Hum, Mary Wile and Russell Walker, have time and time again displayed contempt for their constituents - constituents who wanted nothing more than the best possible facility for their community. While most politicians would have welcomed their community's help in lobbying for provincial and federal money, our councillors took offense to a petition signed by over 7,000 people asking them to "Build It Right." Despite the attitude of our councillors, the community should never feel the need to apologize for pushing for what they think is right.

For those in the community who have not been following the saga of the Mainland Common Recreation Centre closely over the last few years, here is a brief summary:

(Halifax, NS) Build It Right will be supporting Nancy Sievert (District 10 – Clayton Park West) and Norman Duncan (District 16 – Rockingham-Wentworth) for HRM Council on October 18. In late August, Build It Right had asked for expressions of interest for council candidates in Mainland North.

Build It Right is looking for council candidates for District 10 (Clayton Park West), District 15 (Fairview - Clayton Park) & District 16 (Rockingham-Wentworth).

"We are a volunteer group with nothing to gain from this process; we have all worked for 3 years to have our community’s voice heard,” said Francis MacDonald, a local business owner and Co-Chair of the grassroots organization. “We have been ignored and ridiculed by our councillors for our insistence that HRM build a world class sporting facility on the Mainland Common. We should never feel like we must apologize to our politicians for pushing for what’s best for our community."

Build It Right disappointed by lack of 50-metre pool

SUZY TEUBNER | Halifax News Net

The most recent set of numbers are in, and once in operation, the new Mainland Commons Recreation Centre is expected to generate $12.4 million in direct and spinoff revenue yearly.

That number comes from a recent study by Canmac Economics Ltd. commissioned by the HRM.

On Friday, August 8, Herald Sports Columnist Chris Cochrane provided commentary on the Mainland Common Centre announcement. (Read Chris's Column).

In his column, Cochrane noted that excluding a 50-metre pool in the facility plans would mean national and international swim competitions cannot be held at this facility.