News Release
TANTALLON AND HERRING COVE OPEN NEW FIRE STATIONS
Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 25, 2011 - The Halifax Regional Municipality is celebrating today the official opening of two new fire stations to better serve the communities of Tantallon, Herring Cove and their surrounding areas. The new Tantallon and Herring Cove fire Stations, constructed thanks to investments made by the governments of Canada, Nova Scotia and the Halifax Regional Municipality, will improve emergency response services and increase the overall effectiveness of fire crews in the Halifax Regional Municipality.
The Honourable Senator Fred Dickson, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, along with the Honourable Denise Peterson-Rafuse, Provincial Minister of Community Services, Ms. Michèle Raymond, MLA for Halifax Atlantic and His Worship Peter Kelly, Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality, gathered with local firefighters and the community to mark the official opening of the fire stations and received a tour of the facilities.
Both new buildings are four-bay composite stations with an engine tanker rescue unit and a mix of full-time and volunteer firefighters. The new station in Tantallon will allow the amalgamation of two fire stations.
“The men and women who serve our communities, as career or volunteer firefighters, need to know that their equipment is stored in a fully functional building, and residents need to be confident that their local firehouse will be able to provide the quickest response possible when there is an emergency,” said Senator Dickson. “The Government of Canada is proud to have made a contribution to a project which will add to the well being of Halifax’s communities for years to come.”
“These fire stations are about far more than bricks and mortar. It’s about community spirit, and what can be achieved by working together,” said Minister Peterson-Rafuse. “These fire stations will help make our communities safe and great places to live, work and raise families.”
Mayor Peter Kelly paid tribute to the cooperation of all three levels of government to make the new facilities a reality.
“This is an excellent example of making the maximum use of government’s energy and resources to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities,” he said. “Both fire stations are designed to be energy efficient as well as economical to operate and confirm Regional Council’s commitment to providing cost-effective, high quality fire services to its residents.”
The Government of Canada contributed up to $1 million to each project under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The Province of Nova Scotia and the Halifax Regional Municipality each matched the federal contribution. The total eligible cost for each project is $3 million.
As part of the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund is providing funding to over 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country.
Since March 2009, the Government of Canada has committed over $97.3 million in funding under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund to 122 projects across Nova Scotia.
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For more information, contact:
Vanessa Schneider
Director of Communications
Office of Canada’s Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148 or
Toll free 1-877-250-7154
Deborah Bayer
Communications Advisor
Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Secretariat
902-424-0112
Mayor Peter Kelly
902-490-4010
