A local hockey league is pushing for guaranteed replacement ice before the closure of an aging community hub that is set for redevelopment.
The Halifax Hawks Minor Hockey Association has started a campaign to keep the Halifax Forum open a little longer by calling on Regional Council to backtrack on their decision to close the facility.
In a tie vote in March, a motion by Mayor Andy Fillmore to defer the project for less expensive options did not go ahead.
The redevelopment has skyrocketed to $126 million since it was first put forward in 2019.
The Forum has been a staple in the north end that holds events including bingo, concerts and the popular Christmas at the Forum as well as providing two ice sheets.
In a statement, Halifax Hawks say the region is already three arenas short of ice and if the Forum comes down without a replacement built, it would push the shortfall to five sheets.
“We are not asking Council to cancel the Forum project, and we are not proposing a specific building or site,” say the Hawks in a statement. “We are asking for something narrower and, we believe, hard to reasonably oppose.”
The league says thousands of families would be impacted including other sports such as figure skating, ringette and adult leagues.
“This is not just a hockey issue.”
The petition already has 750 signatures and according to the Hawks, is expected to grow.
Supported by mayor
Fillmore has been clear that he thinks the cost of the Forum project has risen too high and that there must be “less expensive, less disruptive” alternatives.
In a statement, Thursday, he says he met with the Hawks earlier this month and he shares their concern and believes a replacement facility can be built at a lower cost.
“I believe we should build that replacement capacity before the existing Forum closes its doors.”
Forum association frustrated
Paul Card, Chair of the Halifax Forum Community Association says it’s frustrating to be dealing with another roadblock, with the motion already approved by five different councils.
The Forum is nearly 100 years old and according to Card, every day is already a struggle to keep it open because of its age and building a new rink could take up to the year 2032.
“The idea that the form could stay open six and a half years is preposterous,” says Card in an interview with Acadia News.
Card says he understands where the Hawks are coming from and if they rallied together to build a new rink anywhere in the peninsula immediately, the board would be fully behind them.
“But if they came out and campaigned to stop the facility, it’s an ill-advised strategy, an incredibly risky strategy and one that we could actively communicate against that we’re not in support of,” says Card.
He adds, the Hawks say their concern is for the kids who use the surface now.
“I understand that’s not ideal, but I don’t know what the other solution is,” explains Card. “They’re coming to this conversation on the 11th hour. We’ve been short ice surfaces since 2017.”
Card accuses the mayor of making a deal with the Hawks behind closed doors and says everyone deserves transparency.
Construction on the new Forum is set for next summer with the facility opening in late 2030.
Council will revisit the motion this fall.
