Community meeting gives clearer picture for historic Halifax Forum redevelopment
Despite showing its age, the Halifax Forum continues to play a vital role in the community and on Monday the organization that runs the facility updated the public on the redevelopment plan for the facility.
The redevelopment plans have gone through various stages of planning and discussion at Halifax council since 2014.
"The next election will be our fourth council that these plans have been in front of," said Paul Card, the board chair of the Halifax Forum Community Association, which runs the Halifax Forum complex and is a partner with the municipality.
Jack Woodill is a stone and brick mason who has played hockey at the Halifax Forum, but on Tuesday he was outside the building on a scissor lift replacing old bricks and mortar so they don't fall on people.
"I like working on old buildings," said Woodill. "It's really fun to see how long somethings have lasted on in the city and to be able to patch it up and repair it."
Card estimates 60 people attended to a community meeting at the Halifax Forum Monday night, which partly focused on the temporary homeless shelter operating in the facility’s multipurpose space.
Dozens of people attended a meeting about the Halifax Forum on April 15, 2024. (James Kvammen/CTV Atlantic)The meeting also discussed the redevelopment plan that has been a long time coming.
"It's certainly past its prime," said Card. "So we're excited to be able to give an update and the community seemed excited, too."
In terms of a construction timeline, Card says they and the Halifax Regional Municipality are moving ahead with the design and pre-construction phase. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.
The Halifax Regional Municipality confirmed the tender and design process is underway and expects the construction to be completed by 2030.
A design of the redeveloped Halifax Forum. (Source: Halifax Forum Community Association)The Halifax Forum complex has two ice surfaces and several multi-use and recreation spaces, which Card says are in constant use.
Losing two ice surfaces during construction would impact the Halifax hockey community.
"We're busy all the time, so it will be a tough question for the municipality on what we do while this is under redevelopment," said Card.
The longer the project takes, the more expensive it gets. Earlier cost estimates for the redevelopment plans have jumped from $81 million in 2021 to $110 million in 2023.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.