Halifax MP Andy Filmore announced a $2.6 million in joint funding today for the Herring Cove Community Association’s Community Centre Revitalization Project on behalf of government officials.

“Today, I am wildly excited to announce that the federal government is making an investment to the Herring Cove Community Association's Community Center revitalization projects, of over $2.2 million dollars.” 

The funding from this project will support retrofits and upgrades to an existing facility in Herring Cove and allow the community association to reopen a community centre to provide important education, recreation, community and social services to residents. 

The government of Canada is investing over $2.2 million in this project through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program, while the government of Nova Scotia is providing $465,000. The Herring Cove Community Association is contributing over $2,000.

The facility will feature new solar energy, HVAC systems, and retrofits. Photo by Sara Gouda.

Investing in green community buildings ensures that Canada is growing in a clean and sustainable way while building strong communities, and supporting economic growth and job creation, according to the federal government. At least 10 per cent of funding is allocated to projects serving First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, including Indigenous populations in urban centres. This program will help the Government of Canada reach its emissions reduction targets by 2030 and its net-zero objectives by 2050.

Katie Dickinson, former president of the Herring Cove Community Association, said this project came about because a few people saw the potential of revitalizing the property into a community centre. 

Katie Dickinson, Former President of the Herring Cove Community Association said Herring Cove hasn't had a community centre since 2005. Photo by Sara Gouda.

“In 2017, this property was put up by surplus by the city. We hadn't had a community centre here since about 2005, maybe. We formed a not-for-profit association, which we called the herring Cove Community Association, in order to put together a business plan to hopefully acquire the building,” Dickinson said. 

MP Filmore suggested a fundraising campaign to close the gap to meet the full $3 million. He started by committing the first $500.

“ I want to say the federal contribution is $2,231,724. The provincial commitment is $465,000. The municipal is $301,000. And if you add all that up, you get $2,997,724, which is incredible. I noted that this total is short of a nice round of $3 million by $2,276,” he said.

MP Filmore put the first $500 in a community fundraiser to reach $3 million. Photo by Sara Gouda.

He encouraged everyone to meet that challenge and close the gap.

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