Public Service Announcement

Fairbanks Centre Now Open to the Public

(Monday, November 27, 2006) - Councillor Andrew Younger (East Dartmouth –– The Lakes), the Halifax Regional Trails Team, and the Shubenacadie Canal Commission are pleased to announce a new partnership for users of Shubie Park.

The Halifax Regional Trails Team has now taken up permanent residence in the Fairbanks Centre at Shubie Park. This means the centre and the canal museum will now be accessible to the public weekdays during regular business hours. The Fairbanks Centre is owned by the Shubenacadie Canal Commission and while the centre has been home to commission offices and open for rentals, it has not been widely accessible to the public.

“This is an important milestone in recognizing the importance of Shubie Park in HRM, and the importance of the canal as part of Dartmouth and Nova Scotia history,” says Councillor Younger, a member of the Shubenacadie Canal Commission. “Park users have waited a long time to see the centre open to the public and I am very pleased that the Mayor and my fellow councillors saw fit to support funding this initiative in this year’s budget.”

As a result of the partnership, renovations have been done to the centre to allow office and public space for both the commission and the trails team. Additionally, a fully accessible washroom is now part of the building. The Avery Room remains available for public meeting bookings, as does the museum.

“We are tremendously excited about this partnership with HRM and the public,” says Dr. John O’Connor, Chair of the Shubenacadie Canal Commission. “Partnerships like this will be very important as we move forward with our ten year strategic plan. Shubie Park, the home to Locks 2 and 3, and the Deep Cut, is an important part of the overall canal which spans the province bringing communities together. The public can now come in and both learn the canal history and understand how trails fit in with our long term vision.”

“Partnering with the commission on this project is ideal from our point of view because the trails team’s job is to foster community partnership,” says Peter Bigelow, HRM’s Manager for Parkland Planning.

“Having the trails team right on the Trans Canada Trail, and in a major hub for active transportation and recreation helps to focus the team. Seeing the public on a daily basis will help develop ideas that reflect public initiative for trail development.”

The next phase of HRM’s work will include the construction of outdoor washroom facilities near the Fairbanks Centre which will provide public access during all park hours. The Shubenacadie Canal Commission is also continuing work in the area and has recently completely a capital projects plan for the entire waterway in addition to moving forward on national Heritage Waterway designation.

- 30-

Councillor Andrew Younger
(902) 476-1727

Peter Bigelow
Manager, Real Property Planning
(902) 476-4016

Dr. John O’’Connor
Chair, Shubenacadie Canal Commission
(902) 462-1826