Sod Turning Held for New Aquatic Centre in East Hants
Elmsdale, NS – May 17, 2018 – Construction is about to begin on one of the largest infrastructure projects in East Hants. A sod turning ceremony took place today in Elmsdale to mark the beginning of construction of the East Hants Aquatic Centre.
The sod turning ceremony featured the Honourable Scott Brison, Member of Parliament for Kings–Hants, and President of the Treasury Board, on behalf of The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Wayne Greene, deputy warden of the Municipality of East Hants.
The Municipality of East Hants is focused on developing facilities, active transportation routes, and green spaces that meet the recreation requirements of its growing community. The governments of Canada and East Hants are investing in a new aquatic centre that will feature a six-lane, 25-metre lap pool, an accessible leisure spray pool, a lazy river and other components such as an outdoor splash park, a slide and a multi-purpose room. The centre will also feature aquatic and recreation programming and serve as a community hub for residents and visitors.
“I am very happy to participate in today’s sod turning for the East Hants Aquatic Centre, a facility that will provide a variety of new recreational activities for residents of East Hants for generations to come,” said the Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Kings–Hants, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “The Government of Canada is proud to support recreational infrastructure projects that will encourage active lifestyles while fostering economic growth and the creation of well-paid middle class jobs.”
“After years of planning, we are excited to finally start construction,” said Jim Smith, warden of the Municipality of East Hants. “We are determined to build the pool on budget and on schedule, opening for residents in the fall of 2019. This facility will benefit the people of East Hants and surrounding areas for many years to come.”
The aquatic centre was designed by an integrated design team led by MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects in association with TEAL Architects+Planners. Bird Construction was the successful bidder and will lead the construction of a facility that is a leader in accessibility, quality and energy efficiency.
This project represents one of the largest infrastructure builds in the history of East Hants, with a total budget of $19 million. The Government of Canada is contributing $5.8 million of funding, with the Municipality of East Hants providing $13.2 million.
The aquatic centre is designed so that toddlers, children, seniors and people of all ages and abilities can enjoy it. It will host a variety of aquatic and non-aquatic programs and be a hub for the community, all contributing to the social, physical and community well-being of residents of East Hants. Its close proximity to the Lloyd E. Matheson Centre aligns well with local programming offered by the municipality, the Colchester-East Hants Public Library and Nova Scotia Public Health.
Project Details
The following items are included in the design of the Aquatic Centre:
- Six-lane, 25-metre lap pool
- Leisure pool with spray features and ramp access
- A lazy river resistance moving-water pool
- Fully accessible hot pool with a capacity of 19 people
- Waterslide
- Climbing wall
- Women’s and men’s change rooms
- Family / universal change room
- Diving Board
- Reception, administration, lifeguards area, staff and building support spaces
- Multi-purpose room capable of holding up to 50 people
- Kitchenette adjacent to the multi-purpose room
- Public lobby and a pool viewing area
- Pool and building mechanical rooms
- Additional parking for up to 40 cars joining into existing parking at the Lloyd E. Matheson Centre
- Outdoor splash park
