The colourful and vibrant sign was designed by the Town of Truro’s Planning Technician, Amanda Bent.  Greg MacArthur, Project Co-Chair notes” we are thrilled to have this sign up and confirm to the community that the location is set and we will begin site preparation in the spring.  It will be great to see some movement on the site and work to begin, the Architects are moving along nicely and we are on schedule.” 

Project Architects, Shore Tilbe Irwin& Partners along with Nova Scotia based architects John K. Dobbs has been working on the schematic designs since December and hope to be in a position to present them to the public by mid March.  The project schedule as outlined on www.ignitethespirit.ca identifies construction beginning in spring, 2010 with a projected opening of fall, 2012.

“2010 has certainly been a busy and exciting year for the project” says Bob Taylor, Project Co-Chair.  “We have been going full speed ahead since Prime Minister Harper‘s January visit to Truro when he announced the Federal Government’s $10 million commitment and we have not looked back.  Recently our focus has been on the schematic designs, and we are thrilled with how the preliminary designs work with the site and are anxious to share them with the public” adds Taylor.

Environmental stewardship, sustainability and appreciation of green technology will be a driving force in the design, development, operation and success of the proposed Civic Centre.  The facility will act as a gateway to the community and will embody the Region’s culture, history and ethnic diversity.

Question:  Why is the pool only going to be 6 lanes?

Answer: The pool is going to be a 25 metre 8 lane pool.  The entire aquatic centre is going to be quite amazing.  It will include the 8 lane competitive pool that will maintain a comfortable temperature for competitive and leisure lap swimmers.  It will also include a leisure pool for children and swimming lessons.  This pool will be kept a bit warmer than the lap pool to accommodate these individuals. 

The aquatic centre will have seating for 500 people along with mens, ladies and family changerooms.  The design of the pool and aquatic area will provide the necessary requirements for our Region to host Provincial and Regional events!

Stay tuned…more Q&A to come!  If you have questions that you would like answered, please feel free to email us at  ignitethespirit@colchester.ca

A couple of weeks later the Federal Government of Canada “Ignited the Spirit” of our Region when Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived in Truro with a $10 M commitment towards the Civic Centre Project!  This long awaited announcement was worth the wait, to have our Prime Minister present to make this announcement is a moment that will never be forgotten!  The federal commitment secured the Town of Truro and the Municipality of Colchester’s additional funding and the green light to move   forward and make this project a reality for our Region!  Time for the project steering committee and the “Ignite the Spirit” campaign team to sharpen their pencils and prepare for the busy, yet exciting year ahead!

What’s next you ask?  Well, our architects, Shore Tilbe Irwin & Partners along with their Nova Scotia partners, John K. Dobbs have been working diligently on the schematic designs of the new facility.  The Project Steering Committee was fortunate to have a sneak peak and was very happy with the first crack at the design.  A few tweaks need to be made and then we will be presenting the designs to the public, stay tuned for more information!

Be sure to visit our website often and keep up to date on all of the latest news.  If you have any questions or comments, send us an email at ignitethespirit@colchester.ca we would love to hear from you!  Lastly, don’t forget to join our fanpage on Facebook, another great way to keep up to date on all the news!

JASON MALLOY
The Truro Daily News

TRURO – The dream has become a reality.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced $10 million Thursday towards central Nova Scotia’s long discussed civic centre on behalf of the federal government.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Truro civic centre is now a reality,” Defence Minister Peter MacKay said to a loud applause at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Centre. “As you can see, prime minister, we all like the sound of that, almost as much as we’ll like the sound of excavators breaking ground.”
Harper said the new facility would be a breeding ground for the next generation of hockey players.
“This modern facility will feature an NHL-size ice surface, with seating for 3,200 spectators to cheer on Truro’s future draft picks,” Harper said.
The nearly $50-million facility will also feature a walking track, aquatics centre, fitness centre, multi-purpose/professional space, community meeting space, a climbing wall and other amenities. Construction is expected to start this spring off of Exit 13 of Highway 102 and be complete in the fall of 2012.
The $10 million was the last big component of government funding that had not been announced.
“If it wasn’t there we wouldn’t be able to build it,” Municipality of Colchester Mayor Bob Taylor said.
The county has committed $14.4 million, the Town of Truro $9.6 million and the provincial government $10 million. The remaining $5 million will be raised through fundraising in the community.
The idea of a regional civic centre started in 2004 during the region’s bid for the 2011 Canada Winter Games.
“We all know the Games were awarded to Halifax, but the dream of a civic centre for Truro did not die,” Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley M.P. Scott Armstrong said.
He noted the tireless efforts of Jon Stanfield, Duane Rath and their committee for keeping the project going. Both men, as well as a number of other steering committee members, attended the ceremony. About 80 people were invited to the announcement with many being staunch Conservative supporters.
MacKay said the facility will not be “just another municipal building.”
“This will be a showcase for sport here in the Truro and surrounding area that has produced some incredible athletes,” he said.
Harper was asked why it took so long for the federal government to make the announcement. He responded by congratulating Armstrong for how quickly he delivered the funding after being elected in November.
Armstrong later said the announcement was not slowed down, except for the summer provincial election and federal byelection.
“An announcement of this type has to go through several bureaucratic hurdles and those hurdles are put in place … to make sure that taxpayers’ money is spent wisely and effectively,” he said.
Truro Mayor Bill Mills was already thinking about many years into the future.
“In the years ahead, when I am asked, how did we do this, let’s just say ‘well, we got by with a lot of help from our friends.’”

This announcement brings the total funding committed from municipal, provincial and federal governments to $44 Million.  A Community capital campaign is expected to raise an additional $ 5 million, to finalize funding required for the facility, expected to open in the fall of 2012.

On hand for the celebratory announcement was Civic Centre Project Co-Chair Bob Taylor, who stated “Our community has realized the importance of building this facility for some time and it is wonderful to see all levels of government step forward and share the same vision.  Jon Stanfield, Chair of the “Ignite the Spirit” Campaign has been working behind the scenes for some time to finalize this third stream of government funding and we are thankful to Prime Minister Harper, Peter MacKay and Scott Armstrong for delivering the commitment on behalf of the Federal Government. Now it is up to us as a community to make this happen.  I have to say I am very excited and happy to be here today for this historic announcement.” 

The facility is expected to include a 3200 seat event stadium, NHL sized ice surface, walking/jogging track, aquatic centre, fitness centre, multi-purpose/professional space, community meeting space, climbing wall and a number of other amenities to meet the needs of Central Nova Scotia residents. 

 “This announcement is yet another milestone in the progress of this community project and is an investment that will improve the quality of life for all residents, not only in Central Nova, but also in the rest of the province and beyond,” noted Greg MacArthur, a Project Co-Chair.  “The cooperation between The Town of Truro and County of Colchester has helped bring the project to where it is today.  This relationship, coupled with the countless volunteer hours on the part of our project steering committee and their respective sub-committees, has clearly shown the wonderful things that can be done when we all work together.  There is no doubt whatsoever that we will have a Centre that will exceed all of our expectations.

 In July, 2008 the Town of Truro and the County of Colchester together signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide the citizens of Central Nova Scotia with a multi-purpose recreational, sport and community gathering place.  The vision of the proposed Civic Centre is to move beyond the offerings of a traditional recreational facility and meet a variety of needs for all of the community.

Tickets are $15 and all proceeds this year are in support of the Central NS Civic Centre Project.

There will be only 200 tickets sold so make sure you get yours before they sell out!!!

Here’s how you can go about getting your tickets.

1) Contact Harvey directly at hjmac@ns.sympatico.ca
2) Contact The Central NS Civic Centre Project at 956-4592 or email them at; ignitethespirit@colchester.ca
3) The Pond Tap & Grill 893 9573

Look forward to seeing you at the Pond on January 23rd!!!

The Organizing Committee for 2010 NYE Celebration:

 Greg Sutherland

Ainsley Mullen

Melani Lane

Sue Stanfield

Amber Ball Ritcey

Heather Fraser

The Event Community Sponsors:

 Inglis Jewellers

Molson Coors

Engine Room

Also we would like to thank the following individuals for their contribution to the event

 Margolians

Amanda Bent

Liz Allison

Donnie MacMillan

Danny Nolan

Angela Rose

A number of exciting draws took place throughout the evening, below are the lucky winners:

$2010 winner: Tanya Hopkins

Diamond ring donated by Inglis Jewellers:Jaclyn Nickerson

Thank you to everyone who supported the event!

May the holidays bring you pleasant memories and much happiness.

By Monique Chiasson

Federal politician Peter MacKay is not saying exactly when funding for a local civic centre will arrive.
He does, however, say it will be very soon.
“I hope to be back here very soon … in the very near future. Your patience will pay off,” MacKay, the Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, said Sunday. MacKay was in town announcing $855,000 federal funding for renovations to the Colchester Legion Stadium. Renovations began in the summer.
“That (money) is not a substitute in any way for the civic centre funding,” assured MacKay.
Funding for the civic centre is of “enormous importance,” he said, adding he had hoped money would have been made available in the fall. He said that didn’t happen because the area was in the midst of a byelection, filling the void in the seat vacated by then MP Bill Casey. Scott Armstrong went on to win the Conservative seat for Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley.
MacKay said the holdup now is an administrative one.
Everything “appears in place … it’s an administrative challenge. The funding is through the Department of Transport and it has had its busiest period in decades,” MacKay told the Truro Daily News, adding funding for the project is “one of the province’s priorities.”
Truro Mayor Bill Mills said he’s hopeful the funding will come into fruition, regardless of the timeline. “It doesn’t matter when as long as it comes,” Mills said.
Armstrong said he’s confident money will be forthcoming. “They are working their way through bureaucratic hurdles,” Armstrong said.
“People ask when it will come. I think there’s a general acceptance it will come … I don’t see anything stopping the money from coming.”

By Monique Chiasson

TRURO – Colchester County council has officially decided to nearly double its financial commitment for a new civic centre.
Council decided Thursday night it would contribute the $14.4-million capital contribution, as opposed to the original estimate of $6.6 million, for the nearly $50 million multi-use facility.
Councillors said public feedback has been varied.
“Ninety-five per cent of the people I talk to say this is something we have to do,” said Coun. Tom Taggart.
“I’ve heard a lot of people say they have concerns that (we) can’t afford to run it,” said Coun. Mike Cooper.
Mayor Bob Taylor said community events will help bring in revenue.
“We should expect … it to make a profit or at least break even,” said Coun. Bill Masters.
The decision was unanimous with only Coun. Bob White absent at the time of the vote. The decision is conditional based on the federal government confirming a $10-million contribution, capital cost sharing ratio of 60 per cent from the county and 40 per cent from Town of Truro and new capital grants received from government or government agencies.
The Town of Truro agreed this week to double its contribution from $4.4 million to $9.6 million.