Residents of the Spryfield area will soon have a modern community centre after years of dedication and hard work.
During a celebration on Monday, Halifax MP Andy Fillmore announced over $2 million to help re-open the Herring Cove Community Centre.
The money will support retrofits and upgrades to an existing facility in Herring Cove, which will allow the Herring Cove Community Association to reopen a community centre to provide important education, recreation, community, and social services to residents.
“The opening of the Herring Cove community centre is wonderful news for residents across the Chebucto Peninsula. Once complete, upgrades to this community hub will ensure that people have access to community services and programs in a barrier-free, modern and energy efficient facility. Our government will continue to work with provincial, territorial, municipal and Indigenous partners to invest in local community infrastructure, promote climate action, and build a greener and more sustainable future for generations to come.” Halifax MP Andy Fillmore
The Herring Cove Community Association has been working to secure funding to give the centre new life and the federal money is part of a larger partnership with the city and province to ensure the project moves ahead.
This is a photo of the community centre as it currently stands. Source: Herring Cove Community Association.
The city has donated land and the existing building while the Nova Scotia government is chipping in $465,000.
“We are so excited to get this funding. This started out with just a few people who wanted to build a place for people to connect, learn, and have fun. We wanted the space to be fully accessible to serve the whole community. We also wanted a building for the future, that would minimize our impact on the environment and be a source of inspiration. A lot of evenings and weekends went into the kind of work that you can’t easily see from the outside, like building our non-profit association, creating our business plan and a design plan, and fundraising. Now with this investment in our community, we can bring our vision to life!” – Katie Dickinson, Former President of the Herring Cove Community Association from 2017 to 2021
Work includes new solar energy and HVAC systems and the addition of multiple accessibility features, creating a barrier-free and inclusive space for all members of the community.
Renovations total about $3 million, and it’s expected to be ready in 2023.
