News Release

Emera Oval Now Open for the Season

(December 23, 2011) - Today Mayor Peter Kelly, along with Chris Huskilson, President and CEO of Emera Inc. and Brian Harriman, Area VP Atlantic with Molson Coors, officially kicked off the 2011/2012 skating season at the Emera Oval on the North Common.

 

Mayor Peter Kelly applauded the residents of HRM for the part they played in making the permanent oval happen. He noted that approximately 100,000 people visited the oval between December and March and that daily attendance was between 3,500 and 5,000 skaters.

 

"Last winter on this Common, the public spoke loud and clear and Council listened,” said Mayor Kelly. “As a result, we are standing here today, making the vision of a permanent skating oval a reality.”

 

HRM will partner with Emera, the naming sponsor of the oval. Emera will invest $500,000 for a period of five years with automatic renewals for additional five year periods.

 

"Emera and its shareholders are extremely proud to support our local community. As an international energy company, based in Halifax, our roots and the majority of our employees live and work here," says Chris Huskilson, President and CEO, Emera Inc. "I know every member of the Emera family looks forward to joining our community in sharing this wonderful facility."

 

Molson Coors is the entry plaza sponsor, with an investment of $400,000 over the next three years. This sponsorship will remain in place for a period of five years with automatic renewals for additional five year periods.

 

In addition to the sponsorship contributions, HRM will contribute close to $4.3 million for construction of the permanent oval and surrounding site work in this year’s budget.

 

Visit skatehrm.ca for event information, condition updates and to view a calendar of Emera Oval programs, and follow skatehrm on Facebook and Twitter.  Weather permitting, the Emera Oval will be open for skating every day until approximately mid-March. Skaters are reminded to always check the Emera Oval hotline at 490-2347 for schedule changes due to weather or other conditions. 

 

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CONTACT:

 

Mayor Peter Kelly

490-4010

 

Sasha Irving

Director, Corporate Communications

Emera

(902) 229-5104

 

Brian Harriman

Vice President Atlantic

Molson Coors Canada

902-496-0301

Brian.Harriman@molsoncoors.com