We the undersigned would like to petition the Mayor and the Councilors of the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) to make the 2011 Canada Games Skating Oval located on the Halifax North Commons a permanent facility for all citizens of HRM to enjoy.
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My family and I love skating on the oval! I think it would be wonderful to be able to continue using it after the games. It is so wonderful for our city!
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Dear HRM counsilors,
Here is a smart idea. How about you take a positive spin from the winter parking ban and take the money from the parking fines to pay for the oval every year? The parking ban and oval would both run during the same time period (Dec.-March). It is a win win situation. You get a positive spin on the parking ban and you take that money to create the positive spin on keeping the oval. I would even think some of the residents getting fines might not be as upset knowing that all (or part) of the amount would be going to maintain the skating oval.
It would be great to see it stay.
It will be nice to see it stay.
I think that keeping the Oval is a bit of a “no brainer”. That said, in order to help offset the cost, maybe an admission charge of a buck or two could be charged. Ever tried to rent a rink for an hour? The oval could be rented too and skate and helmet rental could also help offset the cost. I Think that there could be small hockey rinks set up on the straight areas for the timbits kids too. Just my thoughts
I agree with Geoff Palmeter that keeping the Oval intact
and in use after the Canada Games is a “no brainer”. I have also
been very impressed with the responses of the municipal politicians
to date. From Mayor Kelly to Councillors Sloane and Adams, it seems
that there is now an official interest in doing something right for
a change. Those of us of another age can still well recall the
hours of fun we had on the outdoor skating rinks from mid-December
unitl mid-March. Huge numbers of us learned to skate and perfected
our skating skills on those rinks. The health benefits were
overwhelming and the abilities learned have lasted a life-time.
With the politicians having expressed their collective support, the
whole community should get behind this venture to ensure that it
stays. Congratulations to all who are spearheading the
approach.
Can’t wait to get out for a skate!
What a wonderful use of a COMMON area! I know lots of folks think the Commons should stay the way it has for years, and I am a great supporter of this wonderful green spot, right in the middle of the city, for walkers and dog walkers and ball players and games of Frisbee and skate boarding (not terribly ‘old’ passtimes but now accepted) but also for concerts (for those thousands of folks who don’t just want to walk or play ball). And now there is an opportunity to allow hundreds of folks, young and old, to do something healthy and fun outside in the WINTER! Something that doesn’t even cost money! And the added bonus is that this oval provides us with many months of activity that isn’t as rigidly weather-dependent as our usual winter activities.
As for the comment that parts of the oval have already been promised to other communities, by all means let those communities have these original bits or get them some new ones. Yes, it will cost some more money, and no, we shouldn’t be throwing money around. But this is an ideal opportunity for our city, which so often hangs back from thinking outside the box, from taking a bold step, to show that it can see value in an idea that hasn’t been planned and committeed and argued to death in advance. The citizens want it, the citizens need it. Let’s do it!
When I opened the Chronicle Herald a few days ago I couldn’t believe my eye. There was happy people skaking on the Oval Rink. Everyone looked happy. I just couldn’t believe that finally something that nice was put on the front page and since our amalgamation there was something done for everyone of all ages to enjoy. Why ruin a good thing and take it away – can’t you see that it makes everyone from all ages happy. Don’t you like happy people. I sincerely hope it stays.
People complain that it has taken away ball fields. How many people benefit from using a ball field ( 3-5 minutes of active running by 4 people max in short spurts while others sit) compared to how many hundreds of people skating 30+ minutes continuously at a time! We need an outdoor activity to get people out of buildings and out into fresh air and sunlight. Besides the physical benefit (free treatment of SAD and depression, etc.) there is no membership fees or recycled air. What a great socializing opportunity for families and friends instead of in a coffee shop! This is a chance to help fight obesity in all ages.
Can this be converted for use as a walking area or roller skating area the rest of the year?
The Commons is supposed to be there for the use of the people. Sharing the area by adding a skating oval sounds like it meets the initial concept. It appears that more people skate than play football and baseball. There is still a large area for those that want to walk as well.
Time will tell what the cost and issues are. It is still too early to make the right decision.
[...] the oval, there is a petition that you can sign to let the city council know that we are here. Go here and sign up – with any luck we can keep this thing [...]
As a father and educator we must make outdoor activity a priority for our children.
The oval is a perfect venue to promote healthy active living for our community.
Keep the oval!
The oval brings families from all walks of life together to have good clean fun. It should be a no-brainer that the oval be a permanent fixture in HRM.
I haven’t even been to the oval yet but love the idea of it. All our local communitites should have outdoor skating rinks. It’s great to see so many people out skating and having a good time and getting some exercise to boot.
And don’t even start with the liabilty thing. To heck with it. Make a rink and let them come and skate. Hurrah for the oval!
paul
We should keep the oval on the Common. It is possibly the best idea in a long time for HRM.
As a reference to the petition sender, it is the Common and not Commons.
thanks for letting us know.
Perhaps it could be set up as a perminent site (as it is temporary now), built in, with a hard surface that could be used for other activities at other times of the year such as roller blading, basketball etc. This would add to the overall attractivness of the Commons area for healthy activities. The Oval has proven the old saying true…”if you build it, they will come”.
I’d like to add my voice to the effort to retain the oval and make it a permanent attraction of the Halifax Common. Not only have I used it and will continue to do so, but I think this represents perfectly the type of activity our urban core requires. See the people being drawn downtown? And they are coming for a healthy outdoor activity we should all be proud to participate in. Thank you to all who support the retention of the oval. Skate On! Oh,and please search out another dozen or so similar activities we can incorporate intoa rejuvenated and active downtown core. John
Fantastic Idea!!!!
Great idea!
What a great way to get people back outside exercising and
socializing. By all means keep the oval and give everyone a chance
to experience what we the older generation assumed would always be
available to us, a free outdoor ice surface from mid December
through March. Waiting for Christmas for the next size up in skates
is something I remember well. With global warming it seems the
window for outdoor ice skating has all but closed on us. While
growing up in Point Pleasant Park we were lucky enough to have the
Quarry Pond just outside our door at the Park Lodge and didn’t miss
a day on the ice. One of the things I remember well was helping my
dad who was superintendent of the park clear the ice off at night
so it would be ready in the morning for the return of the skaters.
Back in the day there were scheduled hours for skating and hockey
on the pond. Yes, the oval is one of the best things that has
happened for the area for a very long time.
It’s a wonderful recreational facility for the city and it would really help both the young and old to exercise and enjoy the fresh air. Keep it.
I think that they finally did something right…I live in the area and it’s nice to see familys going with there children with skates in tow. On New Year’s Eve it was spectular to see all the activitys and especiality the fireworks which were amazing…:))) I can’t tell you how many people that I have talked too that have embraced the oval. At least the children aren’t watching TV and playing electronic games or on the computers they are getting exercise. Please lets keep the oval open…:))))
Having lived here in Halifax/Dartmouth since 1978, I think it’s time we grew our City by adding some attractions that appeal to more than jus the residents of HRM. As the Capital City of Nova Scotia, we have very few attractions that offer residents and toursits “something to do”. This would be a welcomed facility in more ways than one.
Its good stuff
I belive this would be a great idea, so much chatter of our
kids playing in the streets, this would give kids a place to play
safe.
I love getting outside to skate, but with our weather it’s
not something I get to enjoy very often. I love the oval and think
it should stay. Why not turn it into a running track for the
summer, or pave the middle and make a basketball court or a place
for skateboarders.
The Skating Oval acts like a giant magnet in the heart of the city, pulling us all together. With it open and filled with skaters the city feels more alive. The health and recreation benefits are huge! Keeping it open every year is a great idea. It is up to the authorities at HRM to make this happen.
Of course we should keep the oval! I could not believe it when I heard it was not a definite plan. I thought one of the legacies of hosting the games was to benefit grass root facilities etc. Come on Sports Nova Scotia, get behind this thing! Actually come on residents of Halifax…demand it!
I know it will cost to keep the Oval but it will cost to
remove it and repair the land. It is a Common area. Baseball and
softball have many fields. A field does not supply exercise to the
thousands of people that the Oval has done in the few weeks it has
been open. We are always talking about obesity,getting families
out, and getting children away from computers and sit-down games…
here’s our chance. I have seen and heard about so many people that
dug out their skates for the first time in years. Isn’t that what
we want. Sport and Fitness now, will pay off in medical bills in
the future! The past 2 generations have never experienced outdoor
skating and that is such a shame. Hockey has taken over most of the
time in Rinks but the Fun of being outdoors, with friends and
family, with the lights and music is so Great! As Peter Kelly said
“We have to find a way to keep it.” My other
It’s not just folks from HRM who are excited about this. My
family and I came into the city last night from East Hants to use
the oval. It was terrific!
My wife and I love skating on the Oval. We have lived in Halifax for five years and we always talk about how there is so little to do in this city once winter hits. The Oval has been the perfect remedy for that. It is fun, it is great exercise, and it goes a long way to build the community to have so many people sharing in the same experience. Make it permanent!
I love the Oval. Finally something to do in the winter months in Halifax that’s easy to access and increases the fitness levels of residents.
Come on its bringing people together out side exersizing
let show some spirit let’s show them all Halifax Rocks let’s keep
the oval
Right now all of our Maritime speed skaters wanting to
train or compete in long track (as opposed to short track) must
travel to Quebec City to do this – that’s the nearest long
track facility! Wouldn’t it be great to have this in HRM?
The Oval would not only give residents an outdoor winter activity,
but also bring in others from neighbouring provinces, bringing with
them their off-season tourist dollars. Sounds like a
win-win to me…
I LOVE THE OVAL!!! I’ve skated on it five times now and plan to go back as many times as I can. PLEASE KEEP IT!!!!
save the oval! its such a good place to go too! Halifax needs something like this to attract people
This oval ain’t free people. Don’t let the spin fool you. Your taxes are paying for it at a high price. The advertisement revenue will only last a year and then we will all be paying for it.
Thanks for your comment Jefferson.
Why do you think that the ad revenue will only last a year? Every person involved in this project runs a successful business. We understand the costs and are working to help secure sufficient funding to make this a reality over the long term. Any cost to taxpayers is entirely worth it given the sense of community this oval has fostered.
There is no ‘spin’.
So the sense of community the oval brings us is worth a 2.5 million dollar principal expense followed by a half million a year maintenance expense for as long as we keep this running?
I think not. I think ‘sense of community’ could be better generated by having a strong community, which we could work on forging together if we stopped spending money on elongated ice circles and start spending it on valuable social programs. You know, like fighting homelessness and stuff like that?
And if you think these companies will fork out $400,000 every YEAR to have ads in the ice you’re insane. The advertisement deal is a one-time shot. So, this year we’ll only have to pay 2.6 million instead of three. Wooooooooo-hoooo.
That’s alot of sandwiches for Halegonians who won’t eat tonight.
$400,000? Where are you getting your numbers? The city has put forward a figure of $250,000/year. And we’re well on our way to raising the kind of money that’s going to be needed to keep it. Over four years, a million dollars is significantly less than almost anything else we could do to generate this kind of community spirit.
The thing you’re missing is that the first step to having better social programs is having a city that people actually want to move to and live in. That requires facilities like this and community spirit that isn’t just full of naysayers who don’t ever want anything to change.
The 2.5 million was already spent and it’s sunk cost now, so that point is entirely irrelevant. And yes, I think that’s worth it. It’s not like that money would have gone to social programs anyway it was earmarked for the Canada Games and was funded by all levels of government.
If you’re not onside with contributing to this cause, please give to the United Way and Feed NS, as many people (including me) already do to help fight poverty. But don’t try to say that if only we didn’t have this oval, the poor would have better social programs. You and I both know that’s not even close to true.
This is a facility that anyone can use. It gets people out with their neighbours doing an activity that helps fight obesity. It makes people proud to live here and that pride translates into more residents, which helps to increase tax revenues, which means that more social programs become possible.
It’s no where near as black and white as you’re making it out to be.
I appreciate the fact that you are willing to engage in civil discourse here rather than choosing to censor my comments. I have the utmost respect for you as someone who obviously cares about their community but disagrees with me, and I hope you can have some respect for my thoughts as well. Although, I do have some major disagreements.
Where is it written that the first step to implementing social programs is “having a city that people actually want to move to and live in”? If a motion was brought up in city council to construct a shelter, would it be denied immediately because the region did not meet a quantifiable level of “community spirit”?
If the majority of people actually cared about that shelter, it would be constructed. If people spoke about it often enough, you would get funding from all three levels of government. People only passively care about making these things happen, so they donate to United Way and other foundations (all of which take a hearty cut before handing any of the money along to deserving people). That is not even coming close to contributing to the cause.
To actually contribute would be to refuse letting government spend on anything but where we need the spending most. Elected officials are chosen by us, and their actions reflect the electorate’s view. If the actions of the official do not align with the actions of the people, it is their responsibility to remove that official. If the opinion of the people changes, the officials will change immediately in order to pander on.
The government doesn’t control us and they don’t control spending. We do. The idea that we don’t is apathetic at best.
Here’s a great story to illustrate what I am trying to say: there was a small community rink running for a few years at Highland Park Jr. High School that closed because the city wouldn’t flip the bill for the water used. The rink was maintained by volunteers, and certainly didn’t cost hundreds of thousands of dollars every year.
Now we have this oval which is wildly expensive in comparison, and as soon as people spoke well of it, Peter Kelly hit the ice to frolic in the PR miracle that was happening around him. There is a really good chance that it will become a permanent fixture in the city, and it’s all because of the power of our voice.
I hope you can see I am not “missing something” when it comes to making real improvements to our city and the people in it, you are adding something totally superfluous. We don’t need this oval permanently. Canada games, whatever, permanently: no.
You’re right, it may not be written that way, but it’s definitely true that the more livable a community, the more likely that jobs and social programs are to follow. I would love to see more education programs to help everyone grow and gain employment, support their families and add to their community. Yes, it might be possible to make that happen by investing every dollar into social programs, but it would make this city completely unattractive to business and many many smart people would have no interest in living here.
I think it’s possible to have both. I see this oval as a benefit to my community, and I want to see it become permanent. It would be callous (and completely untrue) of me to say that I don’t care about the poverty stricken, but there are some things that I feel that I am capable of changing, and some things I can’t change directly. I feel that this project is worth pursuing and I hope it kickstarts investment in this city which will help prop up *some* part of everyone’s lives.
Aside from this project, I try to hire as many local people at my company as possible and contribute to my city in a way that makes sense to me.
Thank you for being respectful, and I truly appreciate your perspective and interest.
Picture the whole perimeter of the North Common as the oval ,stretching close to 2km. From the sidewalks back 25 -30 feet in width. Get the funding from the. Corporations(donations and ads), Provincial Govt( infrastructure funding). Federal Govt. .. Hey 55 million for a Library. 150-500 million for the Trade Centre, We Deserve a Great Oval. It is are MONEY ,tell them what you want… Go big….If planned right the ball fields remain in the middle…. Then the city needs a Winter Festival in Feb as does Ottawa and Quebec City.. Music , Figure Skating, Ice Sculptures, Hockey games, Maybe Neptune Theatre could do a
Live performance for the public…. Cheers to Our Health and City
Finally the people of Halifax and Dartmouth have something to do in the winter
without Breaking our already non-existant bank accts to do something with our kids. But like anything in our province that we get any benifits out of, that scares people here for some reason probably will be squashed just like our hopes and dreams of this place.
One positive note people are finally standing up for what they want a bit good to see, Now stop kickin the can and give the people something to do,,,as we really get nothing in this city. Thats Fun and Free.
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the oval is a huge asset to the HRM so i know for a fact that alot of people want to keep the oval. so lets keep it it will help alot and it would attract more people to the HRM.!