We strongly believe that this community needs and is more than able to support a truly state-of-the-art, multidimensional facility built on the mainland common. We seek to have a new facility constructed that meets that expectation. In order to accomplish this, we need HRM to engage the community to ascertain what our needs really are.

Why we believe having a better facility is both important and sustainable:

• There is a large catchment area of appoximately 200,000 people within a 20 minute drive of the proposed building site. Furthermore, the immediate area has seen explosive growth both commercially and residentially and has a population base of approximately 100,000. If you consider the geographical draw of the Bayer's Lake business district there are really no geographical boundaries to the area that this facility could service.
• Northcliffe pool has been overused and inadequate to meet the needs of the community for many years now. A facility much bigger than Northcliffe is needed. Northcliffe was built in the early 1970s.
• Community fundraising will comprise a substantial amount to the project. Fundraising will only be successful if the facility is one that is supported by the community.
• Nova Scotia is stricken with preventable illness and disease due to inactive lifestyles. It has been a mandate of the Nova Scotia government to promote healthy and active lifestyles. A large multi-use facility would meet the "healthy and active lifestyles" mandate.
• Children are also at risk . Both their health and their free time are of concern. In order to attract children of all ages, and especially those in their critical teenage years, a facility is needed that is both able to appeal to them and handle the programs that will keep them involved in positive experiences.
• The larger the facility, the more inclusive for all groups whether it be for competitive sports programs or fitness and leisure.
• When HRM was asked about the future of other infrastructure including Centennial Pool (located in downtown Halifax ), they responded, "Centennial Pool is to be evaluated as per its future. Presently it is operated by a dedicated group of volunteers, but the facility requires adequate Capital investment."
• The Centennial Rink Commission is considering the need to replace or to add to the Centennial Arena in order to better serve the area. The current rink is 35 years old.

Why our vision includes a 10 Lane / 50 m Pool:

• to offer simultaneous accessibility to people of all abilities and ages throughout the day in order to meet the needs, interests and trends in health, fitness and wellness and general inactivity of youth, adults and seniors
• Northcliffe Centre is unable to meet the present needs
• To meet the HRM stated mandate to build for current and future 30 year needs
• Size matters in order to include all who wish to register or access in HRM or HRM West
• HRM's many studies, reports, surveys recommend a multi-district, multi-use facility with a 50m pool including a dive tank
• To provide youth many alternatives within a large venue to develop past, introductory skill levels to mastery and leadership in life long activities ( 84.570 youth in HRM West)
• An investment to lessen stress on escalating Health, Fitness and Well-being through prevention, therapy/rehab and recreation
• To increase safety skills by offering more youth/adults in order to prevent increasing summer/winter water deaths
• to accommodate the fast growing population a regulation 50m 8-10 lane pool is needed: National Standards: a 25 m pool/60,000 pop; National aquatic growth is 5%/year
• To fill an infrastructure gap in HRM
• Cost efficiency of large facilities; people regularly pass up small facilities for larger to be ensured accessibility

Why we feel 2–3 arenas/ice surfaces are needed:

• Minor Hockey: Total prime time ice available at all Halifax Dartmouth arenas for Minor Hockey is 900 hours.
• 6,500+ boys/girls aged 5-18 registered in HFX/Dart regions
• Average 15 participants per team = 433 teams
• With only 900 hours of ice available = 2 hours ice time/team/week = 2 games and only 1 practice.
• Rep teams require 1 practice/game therefore Rec teams do not even get a practice
• HNS has senior Women's teams looking for ice
• New programmes needed: Sledge Hockey; Intro level programmes; grow existing female programmes.
• Currently other communities traveling to use available ice time in Halifax Dartmouth
• Hockey Associations must cap enrolment turning kids away
• Lacrosse, Ringette, Figure Skating, Speed skating, public skating are limited
• Several rinks in Halifax Dartmouth Regions are 40+ years old outliving their life span
• Fact: one physical plant can operate 2 or 3 ice-surfaces creating great operating efficiency (see Moncton )
• Fact: heating, operational processing and costs can be efficiently used/ transferred between rinks and swimming pools.
• Fact: “ if you build it, they will come ” and not only the Halifax area but all of HRM and Nova Scotia will benefit from a properly designed and built facility.