MEDIA RELEASE

Councillor McCluskey Supports new NSCAD Campus location on Dartmouth Cove site

(Friday, March 4, 2005) At a meeting yesterday of the Harbour East Community Council, District 5 Councillor Gloria McCluskey moved that a recommendation be sent to Regional Council requesting that it endorse the establishment of a new Metro Campus for the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design (NSCAD) in Dartmouth Cove on lands currently owned by the Province of Nova Scotia.. The Motion was unanimously passed by Community Council.

The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) is building a new Metro Campus to meet its expanding program needs. Over the past few years, the Board of NSCAD have been looking at three potential sites for their new campus, including the provincial government lands in Dartmouth Cove between Canal and Maitland Streets. Approximately fifteen months ago, the Board of NSCAD achieved a consensus that Dartmouth was the first choice for the location of their new campus.

At the Harbour East Community Council meeting last night, Councillor McCluskey said, “The choice by NSCAD to locate their new campus in Dartmouth Cove would provide major benefits to all parties involved. One of the biggest benefits, of course, would be its ability to help revitalize the downtown Dartmouth core and waterfront area”.

Tim Olive, Executive Director of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission, added “There are many other reasons why the choice of the Dartmouth Cove site would be a positive one including shared use of related course services with the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC); as well as use of the new multi-purpose trail which connects Dartmouth Cove to the NSCC grounds. He added, “The new Metro Campus in Dartmouth Cove would be well-served for transportation, being located near the Dartmouth Ferry Terminal and connected to the Woodside Ferry Terminal by the Trail System.

Councillor McCluskey concluded “Other downtown Dartmouth cultural and recreational facilities such as Alderney Landing and the Dartmouth Sportsplex are also nearby, as well as many growing businesses which would also well serve NSCAD students.”

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Contact:

Councillor Gloria McCluskey
District 5, Dartmouth Centre
476-1667 /490-7033

Tim Olive
Executive Director
Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission
466-2997