Aging N.S. arenas vital to community well-being, sustainability, committee told

They may cost a little more but they’re worth it.

That popular commercial slogan for Ganong boxed chocolates from four decades ago can be applied to the dozens of community arenas that struggle to stay afloat across Nova Scotia.

“The reality is that recreational facilities are loss leaders in communities,” Bill Greenlaw, executive director of Communities, Sport and Recreation, told the legislative standing committee on community services Tuesday.

“Yes, (arenas) are going to cost money but they are a public good, and we also know that they are vital to community well-being and sustainability. I’m proud that we are able to support them in the way that we do.”

That support is provided through grant programs administered by the provincial Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage Department to help with renovations, repairs and upgrades to community buildings, rinks, recreation facilities and legions.

Justin Huston, deputy minister of the provincial department, said the Rink Revitalization Fund, part of the Recreation Facility Development Grant program, disperses about $1 million a year to groups that are eligible to receive up to one-third of the total cost of an upgrade project, to a maximum of $150,000.

“Most projects are much smaller than that,” Huston said. 

“Most of the funding that goes out the door I would say is between $20,000 and $50,000. Over three years, we’ve funded over 65 rink projects.”

That funding was dedicated to 32 community arenas in 2021, 22 more in 2022 and 11 in 2023.

‘Ounce of prevention’

Lorelei Nicoll, the Liberal MLA for Cole Harbour-Dartmouth, said when funding for facilities is discussed, rinks are often top of mind.

“Rinks and pools are big sinkholes, literally, so therefore they require a lot of funding,” Nicoll said. 

At some point, if such facilities repeatedly request funding to keep the lights on, are their applications deemed ineligible, Nicoll asked.

Huston said that is a consideration and the facilities that were built decades ago would require an engineering assessment if applying for funding for a major overhaul.

“For the most part, these are high humidity environments, they are heavily used by communities,” Huston said.

“Often, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It’s keeping on top of the upkeep. What we see so often, particularly with volunteer organizations, if they aren’t able to sustain that regular upkeep, it’s going to cost the community and all of us a lot more in the end.”

Greenlaw described community recreational facilities as emotional assets to communities. 

“Decommissioning recreational facilities is a very challenging thing to do across the country,” he said. 

“People have grown up going to a certain (facility), they love it.”

Greenlaw said community volunteers work diligently to keep the building up and running.

‘Community pride’

“While our assets might be aging . . . with the majority of them there is a sense of community pride. We provide the supports that help, like the rink revitalization program.”

Huston said some of that support is about making ends meet, but it is also about being environmentally responsible.

“Are there other ways we can upgrade the systems, the electrification of some of these community grants,” Huston said. 
“There are ways we can make it a win-win-win across the board.”

He said communities that otherwise might try to save money by fixing or replacing an oil heater can look at the possibility of a heat pump.

Greenlaw said the typical grant application is for something like recycling or renewing chillers in the ice plants.

“A lot of investments went into those types of assets, a lot of roofs got invested in with that fund,” he said. 

“The other kind of cool thing is the electrification of the Zambonis. That has also been something we’ve invested in to ensure our green future and that people are not wearing masks while the Zamboni goes around cleaning the ice.” 

In mid-December, the Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage Department announced that organizations across the province had until next week, Feb. 14, to apply for funding to make accessibility and other improvements to community facilities.

The funding programs include the recreation development grant, the Community Facilities Improvement Program that supports repairs and upgrades to community facilities open for public use, the Community ACCESS-Ability program that supports renovations and improvements to make community buildings more accessible, and the Legion Capital Assistance Program for capital upgrades at legion branches.

Eligible applicants

Groups eligible to apply for the grants include registered non-profit societies, Mi’kmaw band councils, municipalities, villages, and schools and post-secondary institutions where facilities are available for community recreational use.

Nicoll wanted to know if the department is providing funding to help communities convert facilities into homeless shelters.

Huston said different communities have different needs or approaches related to homeless shelters.

“Community groups are able to tap into resources,” he said. 

“Foundationally, it is very difficult to even consider how to utilize community centres for either day shelters or whatever if a roof is leaking or they are not accessible.

“Some of our existing programs are key in terms of making sure that those facilities are operational and are able to serve the broader community.”

Huston said conversations are continuing with the Municipal Affairs and Community Services departments around how “to meet communities where they are at (and) what their priorities are” for assisting in housing and homeless issues.

Gary Burrill, the NDP representative for Halifax Chebucto, wanted to know if community places of worship are still ineligible for the facilities improvement grants.

Greenlaw said the grants would not support the sanctuary but if the place of worship had a recreation hall in the basement or a community kitchen, it would be able to apply.

“If it is just a faith-based experience and not a community asset, it would not be eligible,” he said. 

Burrill said worship spaces in rural areas are now commonly used as community gathering spaces.

“I wonder if that criteria could stand to be looked at from that point of view,” Burrill said.

Huston said that is something the department can revisit.

“We do focus on meeting community needs,” he said.

Greenlaw encouraged community groups to talk to the department.

“It’s not a hard yes or a hard no,” he said. 

“We need to know the nuances and the subtlety of how that (faith-based) facility is being used and then we can have a discussion.”